JP2006521644A - Bit-type optical data storage using aluminum oxide single crystal media - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for writing information to a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ , reading from the medium, and erasing on the medium. The method includes writing and erasing information using photoionization with sequential two-photon absorption, and reading the information nondestructively using one-photon absorption and confocal fluorescence detection. An apparatus for writing and reading information incorporates confocal detection and spherical aberration correction for multilayer volumetric fluorescence data storage. This method also allows multi-level storage and retrieval of information for increased storage capacity.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for writing information to, reading from, and erasing information on a data storage medium.

  This application is filed on Apr. 22, 2003, US patent application Ser. No. 10 / 419,726 entitled “Confocal 1-bit recording and fluorescence readout using aluminum oxide single crystals” and Aug. 6, 2003. This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 633,654 entitled “Bit-Based Optical Data Storage Using Aluminum Oxide Single Crystal Medium,” which was filed on Dec. 4, 2001. US patent application entitled “Aluminum Oxide Material for Optical Data Storage” filed Dec. 4, 2002, claiming priority date of US Provisional Application No. 60 / 336,749 (now abandoned) No. 10 / 309,021, as well as US Provisional Application No. 60 / 417,153 filed Oct. 10, 2002, filed Dec. 4, 2002, entitled “Oxidation Used for Optical Data Storage”. US Patent Application titled “Method of Forming Aluminum Material” Some of No. 10 / 309,179 is a continuation application. This application is also a US patent entitled "Method for Thermally Erasing Information Stored on Aluminum Oxide Data Storage Medium" filed on June 9, 2003, a divisional application of US Patent Application No. 10 / 419,726. Related to application 10 / 456,569. The entire disclosure and content of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

  Various attempts have been made to design higher density data storage media for computer devices instead of conventional storage media such as magnetic disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs and the like. Many of the obstacles faced with developing improved data storage methods are related to inappropriate storage material properties. For example, photopolymers are being investigated for use in 1-bit or holographic data storage. However, the photopolymer exhibits strong dimensional shrinkage. Also, most photosensitive polymers can only be used as WROM media (one write, many reads), and rewritable photopolymers are still unstable and the write-read cycle is repeated many times. And marked fatigue. Even single-write fluorescent photopolymers show a strong decrease in fluorescence output signal when read repeatedly. A further problem with most photopolymers, and other potential materials for photorefractive crystals for 1-bit volume recording, is the femtosecond high peak output Ti-sapphire to achieve effective two-photon absorption. It is necessary to use a laser. This type of laser is large, expensive and only suitable for laboratory demonstrations.

  Thus, there is a need for better materials for the manufacture of high density data storage devices.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data storage method utilizing an aluminum oxide material that allows a fast electronic process as compared to phase change transition or photoinduced polymerization techniques for data storage. is there.

  It is a further object of the present invention to provide a data storage method utilizing aluminum oxide material that can achieve write / read speeds of up to 100 Mbits per second.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a data storage method utilizing an aluminum oxide material that provides the ability to perform multiple mark parallel processing in a data storage medium to increase writing / reading speed.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a data storage method utilizing an aluminum oxide material that provides a high data storage density limited only by the diffraction limit and NA of the optical component.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a data storage method utilizing an aluminum oxide material that provides the possibility of multi-level data storage due to the dependence of the fluorescence response from the writing laser energy.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a data storage method utilizing an aluminum oxide material that requires only low laser light energy (pJ and nJ range) for writing and reading information.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a data storage method utilizing an aluminum oxide material that provides significantly higher temperature and time stability of the stored data.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a data storage method utilizing an aluminum oxide material that does not degrade material performance after countless write / read cycles.

According to a first broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of writing information to a data storage medium, the method comprising providing a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; Writing to the luminescence data storage medium.

According to a second broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for reading information stored on a data storage medium, the method comprising exciting the luminescence data storage medium with a light source to provide the luminescence data storage medium. Emitting a fluorescent light signal to the luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ and the light source emitting a read laser beam having a wavelength in the range of the absorption band of the luminescence data storage medium; Measuring the fluorescence light signal induced by the laser from the luminescence data storage medium and reading the information stored on the luminescence data storage medium.

According to a third broad aspect of the present invention, a method for erasing information stored on a data storage medium is provided, the method comprising providing a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O _3. The luminescence data storage medium having the information stored therein; and irradiating the luminescence data storage medium with a light source to erase the information.

According to a fourth broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of writing information to a data storage medium, the method comprising providing a luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; and the luminescence data By using a two-photon absorption technique and a photoionization technique that removes electrons from the color center in the storage medium and moves the electrons to a thermally stable trap in the luminescence data storage medium, the information is transmitted to the luminescence data at the light source. Writing to the storage medium.

According to a fifth broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for reading information from a data storage medium, the method comprising: a light source having a wavelength in the range of the absorption band of the luminescence data storage medium. And emitting a fluorescent light signal to the luminescent data storage medium, the luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ and a color center; and from the luminescent data storage medium Measuring the induced fluorescence signal and reading the information stored on the luminescence data storage medium, the method being performed under conditions of one-photon absorption without photoionization of the color center. And excitation of the color center by the light source causes the fluorescence signal to be emitted at the color center.

According to a sixth broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for erasing information stored in a data storage medium, the method comprising providing a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ comprising: Illuminating the luminescence data storage medium with a light source under conditions of two-photon absorption and erasing the information.

According to a seventh broad aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus comprising a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; and a light source for writing information to the luminescent data storage medium.

According to an eighth broad aspect of the present invention, a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; when information is stored on the luminescent data storage medium, the luminescent data storage medium is excited to An apparatus is provided that includes a first light source for emitting a fluorescent light signal to a luminescent data storage medium; and means for measuring the generated fluorescent light signal.

According to a ninth broad aspect of the present invention, a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; and removing electrons from the color center in the luminescent data storage medium and in the luminescent data storage medium By using a two-photon absorption technique and a photoionization technique to move electrons to a thermally stable trap, an apparatus is provided that includes writing means for writing the information to the luminescent data storage medium, the writing means comprising a first light source including.

According to a tenth broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for erasing information stored on a data storage medium, the method providing (a) a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O _3. And wherein the luminescence data storage medium has the information stored therein; and (b) thermally annealing the luminescence data storage medium at a temperature of about 600 to 700 ° C. Erasing the information on the sense data storage medium.

According to an eleventh broad aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for erasing information stored on a data storage medium, the apparatus being a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ comprising: A storage medium having the information stored thereon; and thermal annealing the luminescence data storage medium at a temperature of about 600 to 700 degrees Celsius, and the luminescence data storage medium on the luminescence data storage medium An annealing means for erasing information is included.

According to a twelfth broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of reading information stored on a data storage medium, the method comprising: (a) exciting the luminescence data storage medium with a light source to provide the luminescence. Generating a fluorescent light signal in the data storage medium, wherein the luminescent data storage medium comprises Al ₂ O ₃ and the light source has a wavelength in the range of the absorption band of the luminescent data storage medium Emitting a laser beam; and (b) measuring the laser-induced fluorescent light signal from the luminescence data storage medium and reading the information stored on the luminescence data storage medium , the luminescent data storage medium, the basal material including Al ₂ O _3; a second de containing and carbon; first dopant comprising magnesium The luminescence data storage medium includes a number of at least one type of oxygen vacancy defects and the luminescence data storage medium has a range of 250 ± 5 nm, 335 ± 5 nm, and 620 ± 10 nm. At least one color center having an absorption band, emission in the region of 750 ± 10 nm, and a lifetime of 80 ± 10 ns.

According to a thirteenth broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of writing information to a data storage medium, the method comprising providing a luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; and the luminescence data storage Writing the information to the medium with a light source, the luminescent data storage medium having an optical c-axis orientation parallel to the direction of light propagation of the light source.

According to a fourteenth broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of writing information to a data storage medium, the method comprising providing a luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; and the luminescence data storage Writing the information to the medium with a light source, the luminescence data storage medium having an optical c-axis orientation perpendicular to the direction of light propagation of the light source, and the polarization vector of the light source Synchronously with the rotation of the sense data storage medium and maintain the optical c-axis of the crystal parallel to the polarization direction of the light source.

According to a fifteenth broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for reading information stored on a data storage medium, the method comprising: (a) exciting the luminescence data storage medium with a light source to produce the luminescence. A reading laser for generating a fluorescent light signal in a data storage medium, wherein the luminescent data storage medium comprises Al ₂ O ₃ and the light source has a wavelength in the range of the absorption band of the luminescent data storage medium Generating a beam and the luminescence data storage medium has an optical c-axis orientation parallel to the direction of light propagation of the light source; and (b) the laser-induced fluorescence from the luminescence data storage medium Measuring a light signal and reading the information stored on the luminescence data storage medium.

According to a sixteenth broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for reading information stored on a data storage medium, the method comprising: (a) exciting the luminescence data storage medium with a light source to provide the luminescence. A reading laser for generating a fluorescent light signal in a data storage medium, wherein the luminescent data storage medium comprises Al ₂ O ₃ and the light source has a wavelength in the range of the absorption band of the luminescent data storage medium Generating a beam, and the luminescence data storage medium has an optical c-axis orientation perpendicular to the direction of light propagation of the light source, and the vector of polarization of the light source is determined by the rotation of the luminescence data storage medium. Rotating synchronously and maintaining the c-axis of the crystal parallel to the polarization direction of the light source; and (b) the laser guidance from the luminescent data storage medium By measuring the fluorescence light signal, comprising the step of reading the information stored on the luminescent data storage medium.

According to a seventeenth broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for erasing information stored on a data storage medium, the method providing (a) a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O _3. And wherein the luminescence data storage medium has the information stored therein; and (b) illuminating the luminescence data storage medium with a light source to erase the information; The luminescence data storage medium includes a base material comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; a first dopant comprising magnesium; and a second dopant comprising carbon, the luminescence data storage medium comprising a number of at least one type And the luminescence data storage medium has absorption bands in the region of 250 ± 5 nm, 335 ± 5 nm, and 620 ± 10 nm, 750 ± Emitting nm region, and 80 comprises at least one color center having a lifetime of ± 10 ns.

According to an eighteenth broad aspect of the present invention, a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; a light source for writing information to the luminescent data storage medium; and for rotating the luminescent data storage medium An apparatus is provided comprising means and means for rotation of the light source polarization vector, wherein the optical c-axis of the luminescent data storage medium is synchronously rotated and parallel to the light source polarization vector.

According to a nineteenth broad aspect of the present invention, a luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; when information is stored in the luminescence data storage medium, the luminescence data storage medium is excited to A first light source for emitting a fluorescent light signal to the luminescent data storage medium; a measuring means for measuring the generated fluorescent light signal; and a means for rotating the luminescent data storage medium and the polarization of the light source An apparatus is provided that includes means for vector rotation, the optical c-axis of the luminescent data storage medium is synchronously rotated and parallel to the polarization vector of the light source.

According to a twentieth broad aspect of the invention, a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; and a light source for erasing information from the luminescent data storage medium; and rotating the polarization vector of the light source There is provided an apparatus including means for providing that the optical c-axis of the luminescent data storage medium is synchronously rotated and parallel to the vector of polarization of the light source.

  Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

  The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Before describing the present invention, it is convenient to define several terms. It should be understood that the following definitions are used throughout this application.

Where the definition of a definition term deviates from the meaning of a commonly used term, the applicant intends to utilize the definitions provided below unless otherwise indicated.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “write” refers to the conventional term “write” with respect to storing information on a data storage medium. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, information is written to the data storage medium using a “write” laser beam of one or more frequencies.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “write position” refers to placing the data storage medium at a position where the data storage medium can be written by a laser beam.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “fluorescence signal modulation depth” refers to a parameter of an optical data storage system determined as the ratio of two fluorescence signals obtained from the same media spot before and after recording / writing.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “multilevel recording” refers to a method of writing information to a storage medium, on several discrete value levels that represent more than one bit of digital information when reading with a reading beam. Generate readings that can be digitized.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “writing time” refers to the time during which the writing beam irradiates a spot on the medium to achieve the desired change in fluorescence signal amplitude (fluorescence signal modulation depth). Such changes in the fluorescence signal amplitude may be as low as 1% or as high as over 90%, depending on the desired modulation depth.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “read” refers to the conventional term “read” with respect to retrieving information stored on a data storage medium. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, information is read from a data storage medium using a laser beam of one or more frequencies.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “reading time” refers to the time during which a particular storage location is illuminated by a reading laser. The read time is equal to the read laser pulse length for a stationary medium and as a ratio of the read spot size to the medium speed for moving the medium.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “erase” refers to any meaning of the conventional term “erase” with respect to digital data storage media. In general, erasing refers to restoring one or more sections of a data storage medium containing stored information to a previous state having the information stored in that section.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “physical erasure” refers to the removal or destruction of information previously stored on a data storage medium.

  In the present invention, the terms “absorption band in the region of” or “emission band in the region of” refer to an absorption or emission band having a peak in an appropriate region. Sometimes this region can be a particular wavelength, and sometimes this region can include a range of wavelengths that indicate a potential shift in the band peak position.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “crystalline material” refers to the conventional term “crystalline material”, ie, any material having a regular or periodic arrangement of atoms in the structure.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “luminescent material” refers to any meaning of the conventional term “luminescent material”.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “data storage medium” refers to a medium on which data can be stored, generally in digital form.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “luminescent data storage medium” refers to a data storage medium contained in part or in whole of the luminescent material.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “defect” refers to the conventional term “defect” with respect to the crystal lattice, ie, a vacancy, interstitial atom, impurity atom, or any other imperfection in the crystal lattice. .

In the context of the present invention, the term “oxygen vacancy defect” refers to a defect caused by an oxygen vacancy in the lattice of the crystalline material. The oxygen vacancy defect may be a single oxygen vacancy defect, a double oxygen vacancy defect, a triple oxygen vacancy defect, or more than three oxygen vacancy defects. Oxygen vacancy defects can be associated with one or more impurity atoms, or can be associated with intrinsic defects in interstitial atoms such as misinterstitial interstitial oxygen atoms. Occupation of oxygen vacancies by two electrons produces a neutral F-center, but occupation of any oxygen vacancies by one electron forms an F ⁺ -center. The F ⁺ -center has a positive charge relative to the lattice. A cluster having an oxygen vacancy defect formed by double oxygen vacancies is called an F ₂ type center. Two ^{F +} - formed by the center and _Al 2 _{O 3} oxygen vacancy defect clusters are charge compensated by two Mg impurity atoms to substitute natural ^{Al 3+} ions beside the _grid, ^F 2 2+ (2Mg -It is called the center.

The present invention, the term "F-type center" refers to any one of the following centers: F- center, ^{F +} - _{center, F} ^{2 +} - _center, ^{F 2 ++} - _center, ^F 2 + (2Mg ) -Center, F ₂ ⁺⁺ (2Mg) -center, etc.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “color center” refers to the conventional term “color center”, that is, a point defect in a crystal lattice that causes light absorption of the crystal and produces photon luminescence upon photoexcitation. Color centers, impurities, or intrinsic defects in crystalline materials produce unstable species. Electrons localized in this unstable species or defect undergo a quantum transition to the excited state by absorbing the photon's light, and return to the ground state by emitting the photon's luminescence. . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the color center is present at a concentration of about 10 ¹³ cm ⁻³ to 10 ¹⁹ cm ⁻³ .

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “luminescence lifetime” or “fluorescence lifetime” refers to the time constant of the exponential decay of luminescence or fluorescence.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “broad emission band” refers to an emission band that has a full width at half maximum greater than 0.1 eV and is the result of strong electron-phonon interaction. An example of the wide light emission band is a wide light emission band of about 520 nm.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “charge compensated” means that a defect in the crystal lattice compensates electrostatically for the charge of another defect. For example, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Mg and C impurities charge 1 oxygen vacancy defects, 2 oxygen vacancy defects, clusters of these defects, etc., including F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − centers. Can be used to compensate.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “two-photon absorption or 2PA” means that two photons are absorbed simultaneously or sequentially by localized electrons at the color center and the electrons undergo a quantum transition to the excited state or the conduction band of the crystal. The quantum mechanical process of light absorption by the color center.

  For the present invention, the term “one-photon absorption or 1PA” means that only one photon is absorbed by a localized electron at the color center and the electron makes a quantum transition to the excited state without being transferred to the conduction band of the crystal. The quantum mechanical process of light absorption by the color center.

  For the present invention, the term “multiphoton absorption” refers to a quantum mechanical process of light absorption by a color center when more than one photon is absorbed by a localized electron at the color center.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “laser light power density” or “laser light intensity” refers to a physical quantity measured as the average light energy of a laser beam propagating through a medium per second and divided by the constriction of the laser beam. Say.

  For the present invention, the term “substantially insensitive to room light” means that the crystalline material does not significantly change the color or concentration of electrons (concentration of unstable species) in the trap under ambient light conditions.

  For the present invention, the term “can be used for long-term data storage” means that the crystalline material does not significantly change the color or concentration of electrons (the concentration of unstable species) in the trap at ambient temperature.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “photoionization cross section” refers to a parameter having a dimension of cm ² / J that determines how much light energy per unit area is required to perform color center photoionization. A larger photoionization cross section means that less energy per unit area is required to perform ionization (bit recording).

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “fluorescence yield” refers to a parameter determined as the ratio of the number of photons emitted by the luminescent material to the number of photons absorbed by the luminescent material.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “electron trap” refers to a structural defect in the crystal lattice that can produce localized electronic states and can capture free electrons from the conduction band of the crystalline material.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “hole trap” refers to a structural defect in the crystal lattice that can produce localized electronic states and can capture free holes from the conduction band of the crystalline material.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “deep trap” refers to an electron or hole trap having a thermal activation energy greater than kT, where T is the absolute temperature of the crystal and k is the Boltzmann constant.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “effective deep trap” refers to a deep trap that can trap electrons or holes and has a sufficient capture cross section.

  For the present invention, the terms “multilevel optical data storage” or “multilevel optical data storage” refer to data from the same physical location in a medium in which the data storage system has a lot of quantized data or more than two signal levels. The ability to record and read.

  For the present invention, the term “confocal detection” refers to a method of optically detecting a fluorescence signal, where the focal plane inside the medium of the optical read / write head is the diffraction of the projected spot of the fluorescence data storage medium. Optically re-imaged onto a plane containing an aperture or set of apertures having a size comparable to or smaller than the critical spot size.

  For the present invention, the term “spherical aberration correction (SAC)” refers to the spherical aberration that occurs when a high numerical aperture objective lens (NA of at least 0.35) is focused to different depths inside the volume of the storage medium. A technique for correcting or correcting. Spherical aberration correction depends on the depth of focus inside the medium to achieve a diffraction-limited spot size at the focusing depth, by dynamically changing the characteristics of the focusing lens, thereby increasing the depth of the medium, It makes it possible to maintain the diffraction limited spot size at a depth preferably greater than 500 microns.

  For the purposes of the present invention, the term “c-axis” or “optical c-axis” refers to the conventional meaning of these terms in the field of optics. One example of a c-axis is described below and is shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B.

Description The need for high capacity and high transfer rate computing devices for mass data storage has prompted the exploration of new types of media that can exist in more than one stable arrangement. By transferring the storage medium from one arrangement to the other, bits of information can be written and erased, but reading the bit is recognized by analyzing the arrangement of the medium. Many materials and techniques for data storage and data processing have been suggested, but only a few of these techniques have found practical application. Because of the many needs, it is very difficult to develop media for optical data storage devices that preferably meet all these needs. The following documents (the contents and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference) describe several techniques that have been attempted: EP Walker et al., 3-D Parallel Readout in a 3- D Multilayer Optical Data Storage System, Technical Digest of Joint International Symposium on Optical Memory and Optical Data Storage, IEEE Catalog Number 02EX552, 147-149, (July 2002); Optical Data Storage 2001, Proceedings of SPIE, Volume 4342 ( 2001); Optical Data Storage 2000, Proceedings of SPIE, 4090 (2000); International Symposium on Optical Memory and Optical Data Storage 1999, SPIE, 3864 (1999); Advanced Optical Data Storage: Materials, Systems, and Interfaces to Computers , Proceedings of SPIE, 3802 (1999); and K. Schwartz, The physics of optical recording, Chapter 4, pages 89-111, Springer-Verlag, Germany (1993); Incorporated herein by reference.

Some of the more important needs that data storage devices preferably meet are: the ability to repeatedly write, read and erase data (> 10 ⁶ cycles); high density per unit capacity or area Bits (> 10 ¹¹ cm ⁻³ ); high data transfer rate (> 10 ⁷ bits / second); minimum access time (<10 ⁻² seconds); long life of storage medium (> 10 years) and storage on storage medium Non-volatility of stored information; environmental stability of media characteristics; safety of stored data; and ability to perform data error correction.

  Several methods have been attempted to provide storage devices that may be able to compete or replace conventional magnetic induction methods to achieve the desired properties. Of these methods, attempts have been made to use the following: magneto-optic and electro-optic effects (Pockels effect, Kerr effect, Faraday effect, photorefractive effect, etc.), photochromic effects in dye polymers and inorganic crystals, And phase transitions in the storage medium at a spot heated by a laser beam. Some of these methods are well recognized and are already on the market in the form of phase change media in the form of CD-RW and DVD-RW and magneto-optical WREM (write-read-erase-memory) disks and drives. Out. Other methods such as near-field solid immersion lens recording and atomic force microscopy are rarely discussed. See Ingolf Sander (Constellation 3D, Inc.), Fluorescent Multilayer Technology, Alternative Storage Technologies Symposium 2001, Monterey California, June 26, 2001; the entire content and disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The

  Most of the above conventional techniques using 2D (thin film) media have the storage density caused by the minimum achievable focused laser light spot or in the case of magnetic recording due to thermal instability of the domain wall (superparamagnetic effect) Approaching the basic limits of The most promising way to overcome these limitations may be to use volume (3D space) recording. Among the 3D type data storage, most of the types of data storage being studied can be found in Holographic data storage (HJ Coufal, D. Psaltis, G. Sincerbox), Springer 2000, p. 488. ), And volume multilayer 1-bit recording (Confocal and Two Photon Microscopy, Foundations, Applications, and Advances (edited by Alberto Diaspro) Wiley-Liss, 2002, page 567). The entire contents and disclosure of the above documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Several types of materials, such as photopolymers, photochromic materials, and photorefractive crystals, have been proposed as potential recording media with confocal detection mechanisms, where one bit in the volume of the media is high It can be written as a local refractive index change using two-photon absorption (2PA) of a peak output short pulse laser beam and the recorded data is read by measuring the change in the reflection of the reading laser light. Strickler et al., US Pat. No. 5,289,407; James H. Strickler, Watt W. Webb, Three-dimensional optical data storage in refractive media by two-photon point excitation, Optics Letters, 16, Issue 22, 1780-82, 1991 November; Y. Kawata, H. Ishitobi, S. Kawata, Use of two-photon absorption in a photorefractive crystal for three-dimensional optical memory, Optics Letters, 23, Issue 10, 756-758, May 1998; A. Toriumi, JM Herrmann, S. Kawata, Nondestructive readout of a three-dimensional photochromic optical memory with a near-infrared differential phase-contrast microscope, Optics Letters, 22, Issue 8, 555-557, April 1997; M. Ishikawa, Y. Kawata, C. Egami, O. Sugihara, N. Okamoto, M. Tsuchimori, O. Watanabe, Reflection-type confocal readout for multilayered optical memory, Optics Letters, 23, Issue 22, 1781-1783 , November 1998; A. Toriumi, S. Kawata, M. Gu, Reflection confocal microscope readout system for three-dimensional photochromic optical data storage, Optics Letters, 23, Issue 24, 1924-1926, December 1998; Min Gu, Daniel Day, Use of continuous-wave illumination for two-photon three-dimensional optical bit data storage in a photo-bleaching polymer, Optics Letters, 24 , Issue 5, 288-290, March 1999; Yoshimasa Kawata, Takuo Tanaka, Satoshi Kawata. Randomly accessible, multilayered optical memory with a Bi ₁₂ SiO ₂₀ crystal, Applied Optics-IP, 35, Issue 26, 5308-5311 , September 1996; Daniel Day, Min Gu, Andrew Smallridge, Use of two-photon excitation for erasable rewritable three-dimensional bit optical data storage in a photo-refractive polymer, Optics Letters, 24, Issue 14, 948-950 , July 1999; Y. Shen, J. Swiatkiewicz, Dl Jakubczyk, F. Xu, PN Prasad, RA Vaia, BA Reinhardt, High-Density Optical Data Storage With One-Photon and Two-Photon Near-Field Fluorescence Microscopy, Applied Optics, 40, 6, 938-940, February 2001; T. Wilson, Y. Kawata, S. Kawata, Readout of Three-Dimensional Optical Memories, Optics Letters, 21, 13, 1003 -1005, July 1996; H. Ueki, Y. Kawata, S. Kawata, Three-Dimensional Optical Bit-Memory Recording and Reading With a Photorefractive Crystal: Analysis and Experiment, Applied Optics, 35, 14, 14457- 2465, May 1996; Min Gu, Confocal Readout of Three-Dimensional Data Bits Recorded by the Photorefractive Effect Under Single-Photon and Two-Photon Excitation, Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 87, No. 12, 2021-2029, 1999 See December; the entire contents and disclosures of these are hereby incorporated by reference.

  1-bit micro-holograms have been suggested as a way to increase bit reflectivity and signal-to-noise and carrier-to-noise ratios (SNR and CNR, respectively). US Patent No. 6,322,931 to Cumpston et al .; US Patent No. 6,322,933 to Daiber et al .; HJ Eichler, P. Kuemmel, S. Orlic, A. Wappelt, High-Density Disk Storage by Multiplexed Microholograms, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Eletronics , Vol. 4, No. 5, 840-848, September / October 1998; Y. Kawata, M. Nakano, Suk-Chun Lee, Three-Dimensional Optical Data Storage Using Three-Dimensional Optics, Optical Engineering, 40, No. 10, 2247-2254, October 2001; the entire contents and disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

  Several types of photochromic materials for 3D 1-bit optical data storage have been proposed: organic fluorescent dyes dispersed in a polymer matrix can be chemically or structurally conformed, dispersed, and as a result of irradiation Undergo polymerization. Two-photon absorption and confocal detection mechanisms in fluorescent photopolymers have also been used: Rentzepis et al. US Pat. No. 5,325,324; DA Parthenopoulos and PM Rentzepis, Three-Dimensional Optical Storage Memory, Science, 245, 843-845, 1989; Daniel Day, Min Gu, Effects of Refractive-Index Mismatch on Three-Dimensional Optical Data-Storage Density in a Two-Photon Bleaching Polymer, Applied Optics-IP, 37, Issue 26, 6299-6304, September 1998 Mark M. Wang, Sadik C. Esener, Three-Dimensional Optical Data Storage in a Fluorescent Dye-Doped Photopolymer, Applied Optics, 39, 11, 1826-1834, April 2000; EP Walker, X. Zheng, FB McCormick, H. Zhang, N.-H. Kim, J. Costa, AS Dvornikov, Servo Error Signal Generation for 2-Photon Recorded Monolithic Multilayer Optical Data Storage, Optical Data Storage 2000, Proceedings of SPIE 4090, 179-184 Page, 2000; H. Zhang, AS Dvornikov, EP Walker, N.-H. Kim, FB McCormick, Single Beam Two-Photon-Record ed Monolithic Multi-layer Optical Disks, Optical Data Storage 2000, Proceedings of SPIE 4090, 174-178, 2000; Y. Zhang, TD Milster, J. Butz, W. Bletcher, KJ Erwin, E. Walker, Signal, Cross Talk and Signal to Noise Ratio in Bit-Wise Volumetric Optical Data Storage, Technical Digest of Joint International Symposium on Optical Memory and Optical Data Storage, IEEE Catalog Number 02EX552, 246-248, 2002; EP Walker, W. Feng, Y Zhang, H. Zhang, FB McCormick, S. Esener, 3-D Parallel Readout in a 3-D Multilayer Optical Data Storage System, Technical Digest of Joint International Symposium on Optical Memory and Optical Data Storage, IEEE Catalog Number 02EX552, 147 -149, 2002; and Ingolf Sander (Constalation 3D, Inc.) Fluorescent multilayer technology, Alternative Storage Technologies Symposium 2001, Monterey California, June 26, 2001; Incorporated herein by reference.

  The use of luminescent materials as data storage media is particularly attractive because of its ability to recognize multilevel (or multivalued) optical data storage. The luminescence response is proportional to the product of energy placed on the medium during “writing” and “reading”. If the concentration of defects that undergo electron transfer in a volume corresponding to one bit of information is sufficiently large, the elements of the photosensitive medium can be used in a “grayscale” manner and the optical data storage system can be multi-level (or multi-level). Value) can be used as a data storage system. The potential storage capacity increases in proportion to the number of data levels that are reliably achieved. The overall linearity of the luminescence response can extend over several orders of magnitude. Various logical states of the media are indicated by luminescence signals of various intensities and can be digitized using threshold electronics. Indeed, ten levels of fluorescence intensity can be achieved by varying the energy or time of the laser “writing” beam. Increased data storage density is one of the main potential advantages of the luminescence technique of the present invention.

  A similar approach to writing to or reading from data storage media has been demonstrated with silver-doped photoluminescent glasses used in radiation dosimetry. See B. Lommler, E. Pitt, A. Scharmann, Optical creation of radiophotoluminescence centers in dosimeter glass by two photon absorption, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 65, 1-4, 101-104 (1996). The entire contents and disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Two-photon UV excitation (“writing”) produces a photoluminescence signal that can be repeatedly “read” with the same laser at a lower power without measurable erasure of information. It is not clear how such data can be “erased” without heating the medium. Complexity can also be caused by long-term processes of diffusion and luminescence center conversion leading to the “construction” of luminescence signals.

A promising way to overcome the limitations of conventional data storage systems is to use volume or 3D recording. Among 3D technologies, multilayer 1-bit recording with two-photon absorption (2PA) has several obvious advantages. The probability of two-photon absorption is proportional to the square of the laser light intensity. Two-photon absorption allows photoionization or photoconversion of the photosensitive medium only in the vicinity of a tightly focused laser beam without affecting the surrounding volume of the material. The size of one three-dimensional bit or voxel written using 2PA can be made as small as 1 × 1 × 3 μm. Very high storage densities up to 10 Tbit / inch ³ are expected.

  An apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 and described in more detail below. Data is written to and read from the storage medium using two lasers based on a blue laser diode. Two-photon absorption from higher power CW lasers with shorter wavelengths is used to record data. The high NA of the objective lens allows the high intensity of the laser light required for 2PA to be achieved and the diffraction limited recorded bit size formation. One-photon induced fluorescence and confocal detection mechanisms induced by low energy and longer wavelength lasers can be used to record data. Confocal detection significantly reduces crosstalk between adjacent bits, tracks and layers in order to achieve a desired carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR).

  An important object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for performing a write operation with a high probability of 2PA and making the read operation non-destructive by reducing the probability of 2PA during read. At the same time, the method and apparatus of the present invention uses 1PA and laser induced fluorescence during readout at the highest possible level required to achieve acceptable CNR and high data transfer rates.

  Most of the problems with the various storage media described above are related to inappropriate material properties. Most of the photopolymers suggested for 1-bit or holographic data storage are light sensitive but exhibit strong dimensional shrinkage. Most of the photosensitive polymers can only be used as WORM media (one write, many reads), but the rewritable photopolymer is still unstable and when the write-read cycle is repeated many times, Exhibits significant fatigue. Even single-write fluorescent photopolymers show a strong decrease in fluorescence output signal when read repeatedly. Since Ti-sapphire lasers are large, expensive, and usually suitable primarily for laboratory demonstrations, further obstacles to most suggested photopolymers and photorefractive crystals tested for volume 1-bit recording are: To achieve effective two-photon absorption, it is necessary to use a femtosecond high peak power Ti-sapphire laser.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the use of an effective and stable inorganic photochromic fluorescent material for 1-bit optical recording and reading.

  The trap's low thermal energy depth, which contributes to trapping electrons generated by ionization with laser light during writing, results in thermally stimulated emission of electrons from the trap at ambient temperature and fading of stored data. Is caused. In general, this is unacceptable, especially for multilevel storage that requires accurate digitization of the analog luminescence signal. Furthermore, the chemical instability of some luminescent materials and the sensitivity to oxidation and humidity when in contact with air requires the use of a protective layer. In some organic fluorescent materials, dimensional stability is an important issue because of material shrinkage as a result of photochemical conversion and polymerization.

Solid state electronic transitions caused by photoexcitation with relaxation times on the order of 10 ⁻¹² to 10 ⁻⁹ are basically very fast and are considered to be among the most promising quantum systems for mass optical data storage. . The luminescence decay time after the pulse of laser stimulation determines the time required to retrieve each bit of information and the maximum achievable data transfer rate.

  In order to achieve more stable and reliable data storage and optical processing, chemically, mechanically and thermally stable luminescent materials with deep traps and luminescent centers should be used. In order to generate such a deep center, it is necessary to use a wide gap dielectric. In addition, these “thermally” and “optically” deep traps allow shorter wavelength laser light for excitation (“write”), stimulation (“read”), and recovery (“erase”). Need. For optical recording, the minimum light spot diameter is equal to d = 0.5λn / NA, where NA is the numerical aperture of the optical head, n is the refractive index of the medium, and λ is the laser It is the wavelength of light. Thus, blue and UV lasers are clearly advantageous over IR lasers to achieve higher storage densities. Recent developments in blue and UV solid state lasers based on heterostructures of wide gap semiconductors such as GaAlN create real possibilities for the use of materials with wide energy gaps.

  The low energy depth of the trap that contributes to charge carrier accumulation leads to thermally stimulated emission of electrons at ambient temperature and fading of stored data. This is particularly unacceptable for multilevel data storage that requires accurate digitization of the analog luminescence signal. Furthermore, chemical instability and sensitivity to oxidation and humidity when in contact with air requires the use of a protective layer.

Corundum or sapphire (α-Al ₂ O ₃ ) is an important technical material in many optical and electronic applications. It is used as a host material for solid state lasers, as an optical window, as a substrate material in semiconductor epitaxial growth, and more recently as a radiation detector. MS Akselrod, VS Kortov, DJ Kravetsky, VI Gotlib, Highly Sensitive Thermoluminescent Anion-Defective α-Al ₂ O ₃ : C Single Crystal Detectors, Radiat.Prot.Dosim., 32 (1), 15-20 (1990) checking ... Despite the excellent dosimetric properties of carbon-doped Al ₂ O ₃ with oxygen vacancies, the luminescence center (F-center) in this material has a very long luminescence lifetime (35 ms). However, α-Al ₂ O ₃ is unacceptable for fluorescent 1-bit recording applications that require high data transfer rates. Known Al ₂ O ₃ materials also do not have an absorption band that can undergo a photochromic transition suitable for volumetric data storage applications.

US patent application Ser. No. 10 / 309,021 filed on Dec. 4, 2002 and U.S. Patent Application No. 10 / 309,179 filed Dec. 4, 2002 (the entire contents and disclosure of which are herein incorporated by reference) The important characteristics of this material utilized in the present invention are the electronic and optical properties of the memory phosphor and its defect structure, with respect to the new Al ₂ O ₃ crystalline material described in US Pat. is there. The Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystalline material has a color center that absorbs light, a stable trap of electrons, and holes, and the luminescence center has a short luminescence lifetime.

A simplified diagram showing how crystalline fluorescent material can be used in optical data recording and recovery drives is shown in FIG. At 100 in the figure, a 405 nm “write” laser beam 102 and a 440 nm “read” laser beam 104 are generated by two diode lasers 106 and 108, respectively. Laser beams 102 and 104 are directed to a single crystalline disk 110 made from Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg by a flipping mirror 112, a dichroic mirror 114, and a high NA focusing objective lens 116. The disk 110 is rotated by an air spindle fitted with a laser encoder as indicated by arrow 118 or moved by a 3D piezo and stepper actuated translation stage indicated by arrow 119. An optical pickup head that combines the objective lens 116, dichroic mirror 114, focusing lens 120, confocal pinhole 122, and photodetector 124 slides along the radius of the disk 110. Selection of the depth of focus of bit 126, which is a constant data layer in the 3D volume of the disc, and correction of spherical aberration is done by moving additional optical components of the optical pickup head (not shown). Photodetector 124 is used to monitor laser induced fluorescence 128 during writing and reading. Green fluorescence 126 is collected by objective lens 116, reflected by dichroic mirror 114, focused by lens 120 on confocal pinhole 122, and detected by a photon counter or digital oscilloscope 130 connected to computer 132. The

  In the diagram shown in FIG. 1, the two-photon absorption during the “write” operation allows a very strong localization of the photoionization process in 3D confinement of the focal spot of the laser beam and the written bit (green fluorescence 126) To. A one-photon excitation of fluorescent light from a medium using “read” laser light of the same or different wavelength and a confocal fluorescence detector mechanism allow non-destructive reading of multiple bits.

The method described in the present invention is made possible by the unique optical properties of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg. The first information storage process in Al ₂ O ₃ is photoionization, followed by trapping of excited charges by trapping centers. Therefore, for efficient storage of information, it is necessary that the Al ₂ O ₃ crystal includes both color centers that absorb light and defects that can trap electrons. High quantum yields of fluorescence are also required for 1-bit confocal recording. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, bit volume recording is performed using 2PA, while non-destructive reading operations utilize 1PA and fast laser-induced fluorescence.

US patent application Ser. No. 10 / 309,021 filed on Dec. 4, 2002 and U.S. Patent Application No. 10 / 309,179 filed Dec. 4, 2002 (the entire contents and disclosure of which are herein incorporated by reference) the Al ₂ O ₃ crystalline material utilized in generated and the invention according to the method described in to) incorporated by reference, including several types of oxygen vacancy defect, and doped with carbon and magnesium impurities And can be grown by one skilled in the art using any conventional crystal growth method (eg, Czochralski method). The crystalline material utilized in the present invention is characterized by several optical absorption (OA) bands: 205, 230, 255, 335, 435, 520, and 620 nm (FIGS. 2 and 3). The blue absorption band at 435 nm is due to the visible green coloration of the crystal. One important feature of the new aluminum oxide material is the high concentration of single and double oxygen vacancies in the form of neutral F- centers and F ⁺ and F ₂ ²⁺ centers that are charge compensated by nearby Mg impurity atoms. It is a child point.

The F ^{+ -center} is an oxygen vacancy having one electron that is charge-compensated by one Mg ²⁺ ion, and is denoted as F ⁺ (Mg) -center. This center is characterized by at least two absorption bands at 230 and 255 nm (FIG. 2) and has a 330 nm luminescence band with a lifetime shorter than 5 ns. Two of these defects form an aggregate vacancy defect composed of two F ⁺ -centers and two Mg impurity atoms. This set lacks two localized electrons, is denoted F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg), and is suitable for optical data storage. This contributes to the 435 nm blue absorption-excitation band (FIG. 4), produces a 520 nm green fluorescence band, and has a short lifetime equal to 9 ± 3 ns (FIG. 5).

Exposure of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystals with oxygen vacancy defects to high intensity laser light of the appropriate wavelength results in the conversion of the same structural defect from one charged state to another. For example, a F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − center can be converted to a F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) − center with 430 nm irradiation (FIGS. 3 and 6) and converted back with 335 nm or 620 nm pulsed laser light. After a photochromic transition induced by blue laser light, defined as a “write” operation, the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal has absorption / excitation bands at 260, 335 nm and 620 nm (FIGS. 3 and 7), 80 ± 10 ns. Shows a broad fluorescence emission band (FIG. 7) at 750 nm with a relatively fast decay time equal to.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a two-photon absorption (2PA) process is utilized to record information in an Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg volume. Usually, 2PA is regarded as a process of simultaneous absorption by a two-photon luminescence center. The sum of these two-photon energies is preferably sufficient to excite the luminescent center, but the energy of only one photon is not sufficient for the excitation transition. In this case, 2PA is performed by a missing (non-existent) quantum energy state, and its probability is very low. In order to perform 2PA, a femto or picosecond laser pulse with a power density on the order of 100 MW / cm ² is required to perform 2PA. A very important feature of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg that enables the so-called “continuous” 2PA is that the defect that absorbs the laser light and produces fluorescence has a depth of excited states in the energy gap. . The lifetime of this excited state is long enough to significantly increase the probability of second photon absorption required for photoionization and data recording. At the same time, the lifetime of the excited state for this color center is short enough to allow fast reading of the fluorescent signal at high data transfer rates.

Evidence of favorable two-photon absorption in aggregate oxygen vacancies is provided by the secondary dependence of these central photoionization cross sections on laser light intensity (see FIG. 9). The photoionization cross section for the 2PA process is inversely proportional to the decay constant and directly proportional to the product of the ground state and excited state absorption cross sections. The wavelength dependence of the F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − center photoionization cross section shifts to shorter wavelengths compared to the 1PA band (FIGS. 4 and 10) and 2PA in Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystals. Another indicator of the process.

Erasing the written data and restoring the original optical absorption (coloring) and fluorescence of the storage medium of the present invention can be accomplished optically or thermally. The Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystalline material includes deep charge traps. These deep traps of charge have a decolorization temperature of about 600 ° C. to 700 ° C. and a concentration of about 10 ¹³ to 10 ¹⁷ cm ⁻³ . From the light absorption experiment in the annealing process of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystals after irradiating the decolorization temperature of these deep traps with a 430 nm pulse laser beam equivalent to the “write” operation in the optical data storage system (See FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, and 11D). The F ⁺ -centered light absorption band at 255 nm and the F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) -centered light absorption band at 435 nm increase its intensity and restore the original intensity in the temperature range of 600 to 700 ° C. . For the 335 nm and 620 nm bands, both attributed to the F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) -center, the opposite trend can be seen in the same temperature range, as these centers are F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) during annealing. -Indicates conversion to the center. F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) - both 335nm and 620nm absorption bands of the center, appeared only after "write" operation on the pulsed blue laser light, and fresh _Al 2 and 3 2 _O 3: C, Mg It is not visible in the absorption spectrum of the crystal.

A preferred electronic process during “write” and “read” operations in the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg material utilized in the present invention will be described with reference to a band diagram such as FIG. The preferred doped Al ₂ O ₃ material of the present invention for use as a data storage medium can be formed to include a high concentration of trapping sites and fluorescent centers with the exact desired characteristics. Data storage media generally exist in at least two stable physical states assigned corresponding to “0” and “1” states. The initial configuration (logical 0 state) of Al ₂ O ₃ media received or erased has a high concentration of F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − centers characterized by a strong absorption band in the region of 435 ± 5 nm.

Appropriate photon energy hν ₁ (or wavelength λ ₁ ) high enough to ionize the above crystal defects should be trapped in pre-existing electron defects by irradiation of intense writing laser light (“writing” beam) Free electrons can be generated. The traps in Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg are deep enough to keep the charge carriers for a long time at ambient temperature without releasing heat. This second state of the quantum system is here a metastable “charged” configuration (logical “1” state). To “read” the state of the medium, the same stimulus light as the writing light or other photon energy hν ₂ (or wavelength λ ₂ ) is applied, and a fluorescent photon of energy hν ₃ (or wavelength λ ₃ ) is detected. . For fluorescent 1-bit recording, written bits cause a decrease in fluorescence intensity, but unwritten spots produce the original intense fluorescence.

Electron vacancies in wide gap dielectrics such as Al ₂ O ₃ are characterized by their ground and excited state energy levels. If the excited state of the electron defect is located near or within the conduction band, the defect can be ionized by one-photon absorption. A different situation occurs when the excited state is located deep within the energy gap of the crystal. Absorption of one photon corresponding to the energy transition between the ground state and the excited state of the electron deficiency results in localized transitions, followed by non-radiation and radiation decay (fluorescence). This one-photon absorption process is non-destructive and can be used to read information.

  In order to remove electrons from such deep defects and to change the luminescence properties of specific defects in the crystal, the present invention uses simultaneous absorption of two photons. The first absorbed photon excites the electron deficient electrons to an excited state, while the second photon transfers electrons from the excited state in the energy gap to the conduction band. Electrons in the conduction band are now delocalized (removed from their original defect site) and can be trapped by other defects.

Data writing can be performed using two-photon absorption of 435 ± 40 nm blue laser light by the F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − center (see FIG. 12). The first photon excites one of the two electrons localized at the center into an excited state, while the second photon makes a second transition between the excited state and the conduction band, and thus the center Is photoionized. The last stage of the writing process is the localization of the above photoelectrons by other defects, ie by other F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) -centers, or by F ⁺ (Mg) -centers, or by carbon impurities (or Trapping). The results of these photochromic transformations are: (a) another charge state collective defect, F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) −, which has three localized electrons and is characterized by the 260, 335, and 620 nm absorption bands. Carbon-related traps that contribute to the formation of the center, or (b) the generation of a neutral F-center with a UV absorption band of 205 nm, or the TL peak at 190 ° C. All three processes result in the formation of optically deep and thermally stable electronic states and can be used in preferred embodiments of the present invention for long-term data storage. The first process (a) has a higher probability determined from the efficiency of photon conversion in the light absorption band. As a result of photoionization, the F ₂ ²⁺ (Mg) − center converts to F ₂ ³⁺ (Mg) and the emitted electrons have three localized electrons and are 260, 335 nm, and 620 nm. It is trapped by other F ₂ ²⁺ (Mg) − centers that convert to F ₂ ⁺ (Mg) − centers characterized by an absorption / excitation band and an emission band at 750 nm. Both bands centered at 335 nm and 620 nm belong to the same color center because excitation to either of these bands results in the same 750 nm fluorescence emission with exactly the same 80 ± 5 ns lifetime.

The present invention provides two types of fluorescence processes for reading data (see FIG. 12). Type 1 or “negative” process involves stimulation of the original green fluorescence of the F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) -center using blue laser light excitation at 435 ± 40 nm. The intensity of this excitation is preferably significantly reduced to avoid two-photon absorption, but is sufficient to produce sufficient green fluorescence for reliable detection of information. A small amount of Al ₂ O ₃ crystals (voxels) that have undergone two-photon ionization during writing show a decrease in fluorescence or no fluorescence, whereas unwritten voxels show high intensity green fluorescence.

The type 2 readout process of the present invention, the so-called “positive” readout process, uses a laser excitation of 335 ± 30 nm or 620 ± 50 nm to stimulate the 750 nm fluorescence of the F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) − center produced during recording. Including use. One suitable readout mode utilizes the 620 nm absorption band because red semiconductor laser diodes are readily available and red lasers allow non-destructive readout of information. The intensity of this readout excitation is preferably significantly reduced to avoid two-photon absorption. The intensity of F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) -center fluorescence in the 750 nm region with a lifetime of 80 ns is used as a measure of data during the readout process for binary or multilevel data storage.

  Writing data to and reading data from the aluminum oxide media of the present invention using 2PA can be done by laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and is preferably accomplished by electron motion and electron transition. Phase transformations or other structural changes do not occur during “write” or “read” operations. This makes data recording and recovery very fast and reproducible.

The process of writing data according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described. First, a data storage medium in the form of an Mg-doped anion-deficient Al ₂ O ₃ single crystal is focused on a predetermined depth of the medium by the mechanical movement of the medium and / or the moving parts of the optical head. Move to the desired position with respect to the laser “writing” beam. Correction of the spherical aberration of the focused beam is also performed at this stage by mechanical movement of the optical component or by an electro-optical component, for example based on a liquid crystal phase shifter.

The data storage medium is then irradiated with the focused beam of writing laser light having the wavelength λ ₁ for a time equal to the writing time t ₁ . The “write” wavelength λ ₁ is in the range of 370 to 490 nm, with a more preferred wavelength being 390 nm. The continuous two-photon absorption process described in the present invention can be performed with a laser intensity higher than 1 kW / cm ² . The “write” time ranges from 0.1 ps to 1 ms, and a more preferred time is 10 ns. The result of the write operation is ionization and photoconversion of F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − center to F ₂ ³⁺ (2Mg) − center. This is a two-step process involving a first excitation followed by ionization:

F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) + hν ₁ = F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) ^*
F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) ^* + hν ₁ = F ₂ ³⁺ (2Mg) + e ⁻

Electrons emitted from the F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − center as a result of the photoionization process are trapped by deep traps and other nearby F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − and F ⁺ − centers.

F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) + e ⁻ = F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg)

F ⁺ (Mg) + e ⁻ = F (Mg)

  The deep trapping site described above can store information indefinitely.

The present invention provides three preferred embodiments for reading data using a confocal laser induced fluorescence detection mechanism. The first aspect reads data with the same laser beam of wavelength λ ₁ used for “writing”, but avoids two-photon absorption and deletion of stored data with significantly reduced intensity and illumination time. In the second mode of operation, the read laser beam has a wavelength λ ₂ longer than λ ₁ , which is still in the F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − center absorption band. For example, the wavelength λ ₂ is selected to be 460 nm. Longer wavelengths further reduce the possibility of 2PA and allow higher laser light intensity for fluorescence excitation and provide a better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). These two aspects of the “read” operation make use of the F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) -centered fluorescence band in the region of 520 nm (FIG. 4). The lifetime of this fluorescence is 9 ± 2 ns (FIG. 5) and is fast enough to achieve a data transfer rate of 100 Mbit / s. A strong fluorescent signal corresponding to a zero binary state indicates that a “write” operation was not performed on a particular bit. These two first aspects of reading may be referred to as “negative” type operations.

Third and particularly preferred embodiment of the reading operation of "positive" type, F ₂ ²⁺ in write operation ^(2Mg) - F resulting from the electron trapping by the center _{2 +} ^(2Mg) - center (collectively Use fluorescence of the three electrons that occupy the defect:

F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) + e ⁻ = F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg)

The F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) − center can be excited in one absorption band of three absorption / excitation bands centered at 260, 335, and 620 nm. The emission of these centers is in the infrared region and in the region of 750 nm (see FIG. 7 for details of excitation and emission spectra). The lifetime of 750 nm emission is 80 ± 10 ns (see FIG. 8) and is short enough for data transfer rates up to 10 Mb / sec.

A particularly preferred read operation of the present invention will now be described. First, the data storage medium is moved to a desired position relative to the focused “read” laser beam. The reading laser beam has a λ ₂ wavelength, which is in the range of 600-680 nm, with a more preferred wavelength being 635 nm, corresponding to a readily available red laser diode. The data storage medium is then irradiated with the focused beam of “read” light for a time equal to the “read” time t ₂ . The “read” time t ₂ is in the range of 0.1 ns to 1 ms, more preferred time is in the range of 20 to 1500 ns, and even more preferred time is 100 ns. The laser induced fluorescence produced by the Al ₂ O ₃ data storage medium is then measured using a photodetector. The LIF is “data” light at the third wavelength λ ₃ in the region of 750 nm and is in the range of 620 nm to 880 nm. The fluorescent signal is then processed to obtain stored data values.

Optical erasure of recorded bits by reverse photochromic transition and recovery of 435 nm absorption band and 520 nm fluorescence was observed for Al with 205 ± 30 and 335 ± 30 nm laser light corresponding to F and F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) -centered absorption bands. It can be achieved according to other preferred embodiments of the present invention using continuous irradiation of ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystals. Irradiation with 205 ± 30 nm light corresponding to the F-absorption band causes F-center photoionization and generates free electrons. These free electrons can be trapped by defects that are ionized during recording. In particular, these electrons are captured by F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) and F ₂ ³⁺ (2Mg) − centers. One object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to convert as many double oxygen vacancies as possible into F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) charge states. These defects are characterized by strong absorption bands in the 335 nm and 620 nm regions. F-center ionization can be performed, for example, by either coherent laser light or non-coherent light generated by deuterium in a xenon lamp. Subsequent irradiation of the crystal at the high power density laser beam having a 335 ± 30 nm _performs 2PA in ^F 2 + (2Mg) centers, they _F ² 2+ (2Mg) - into a center. The described optical procedure restores the 435 nm absorption band and 520 nm fluorescence characteristic of these defects and restores the original green color of the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal.

Another preferred embodiment of erasing information in the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal of the present invention utilizes high peak power density irradiation with a red laser having a wavelength in the 620 nm absorption band. It was demonstrated that continuous illumination of recorded bits with a 633 nm CW laser reduced the intensity of the readout 750 nm fluorescence signal (FIG. 13). A reverse photochromic transition of the 335 nm and 620 nm absorption bands to the 435 nm band was also observed under 620 nm pulsed laser irradiation (FIG. 14), and the original green coloration of the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal was partially restored. .

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adjustment of the fluorescence readout signal from the recorded bit is the amount of energy delivered to the medium during the recording phase (ie, “writing” as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16). Proportional to the number of laser pulses). The read signal can be digitized into binary or multi-level type data and thus can be used to further increase data storage density.

  The present invention also allows the parallel processing of multiple marks in the storage medium for further increases in “write” or “read” speed and data storage density. Parallel processing is one of the main advantages of optical data recording. One-dimensional or two-dimensional arrays of lasers and photodetectors can be used (CCD chip or CMOS detector).

The storage media of the present invention also provides thermal, time and environmental stability of the media and stored data. A common problem with fluorescent and photorefractive data storage media is thermal instability and results in thermal erasure of stored information. Al ₂ O ₃ doped with carbon and magnesium has very good thermal and temporal stability of information stored as electrons trapped on localized states formed by oxygen vacancy point defects in the crystal structure Indicates. The lifetime of charge carriers in the trap depends on the storage temperature. The higher the temperature, the shorter the lifetime. The deeper the trap, the longer the storage time. Most of the trapped electrons are associated with a 650 ° C. trap with very high heat and optical depth. Al ₂ O ₃ crystals are very stable mechanically, chemically and optically and show no performance degradation over several years. It has also been shown that the recorded data is not erased by conventional room lamp illumination and the media does not require light protection.

Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystals and color centers formed in these crystals during crystal growth exhibit anisotropy with high optical properties. For example, the optical absorption at the color center for a laser beam polarized in a direction parallel to the optical c-axis of the crystal is about 2 to 4 times higher than the OA of the same light polarized perpendicular to the optical c-axis. This is true for several optical absorption bands, including but not limited to the 335 nm, 435 nm, 520 nm, and 620 nm absorption bands utilized in the present invention for write, read, and erase operations. FIG. 23 shows an example of the angle dependency (OA coefficient as a function of the angle of the polarization vector with respect to the optical c-axis) for the 435 nm OA band. The actual problem occurs when the crystal begins to be used in the form of a rotating disk. The translation of the medium should not be a problem, but when single crystal disk rotation is used, the strong anisotropy of OA has a second dependence on the write and erase (both absorbed laser light intensity). ) And reading (direct proportionality for one-photon absorption) changes. For a certain polarization direction of the laser beam, the absorption varies as a cosine function within one revolution of the disk. One solution to the problem is shown in FIG. 24A.

  FIG. 24A shows one preferred embodiment of a write, read and erase operation using an anisotropic single crystal having an optical c-axis perpendicular to the disk plane and parallel to the direction of laser light propagation. This aspect eliminates the dependency of write, read and erase efficiency at the angular position of the spinning disk. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 24A, the disk 2401 rotates 2403 around the disk optical c-axis 2405, which is perpendicular to the plane of the disk 2401 and the propagation direction (k vector) 2407 of the laser beam 2408 and It is parallel to the optical axis of the pickup head (not shown) and perpendicular to the polarization vector 2409 of the laser beam 2408. There is no change in the efficiency of writing, reading and erasing while the disk is spinning. However, due to the lower absorption coefficient in this direction of the crystal c-axis, the write and erase efficiency is reduced by about 10 times and the read efficiency is reduced by 2 to 4 times (see FIG. 23).

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a disc having a c-axis 2411 which is parallel to the plane of the disc and in the plane of the disc before entering the optical c-axis and the objective lens. It is parallel to the vector of polarization of the parallel laser light (FIG. 24B). FIG. 24B shows a preferred embodiment of a write and read operation using an anisotropic single crystal with an optical c-axis that is parallel to the plane of the rotating disk and perpendicular to the direction of laser light propagation. The polarization direction of the laser light rotates simultaneously with the rotation of the disk, and in all cases is parallel to the optical c-axis of the crystal. This aspect eliminates the dependency of write, read, and erase efficiency on the angular position of the spinning disk, and at the same time provides higher optical absorption for higher efficiency of write, read, and erase operations. In high NA objective lenses, due to light diffraction, paraxial and off-axis rays have differently oriented polarization vectors with respect to the optical axis of the objective lens, but have light polarization vectors and are parallel to each other The c-axis of the crystal is a more preferred orientation. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the polarization vector of the laser light is determined during write, read and erase operations so that the c-axis of the Al ₂ O ₃ crystal is always parallel to the direction of the laser light polarization. Simultaneously with the rotation of the single crystal disk, it rotates 2413.

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the utilized method of optical data storage can be used for long-term data storage.

  In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the utilized method of data recording requires as little as 15 nJ of laser energy per bit of information stored in the material.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the utilized Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystalline material is substantially insensitive to room lights in both the write and erase states.

Compared to known techniques for optical data storage, the present invention provides several advantages. The use of essentially very fast electronic processes for the relatively slow phase change transitions and photoinduced polymerization for known techniques provides data transfer rates for one channel up to 100 Mb / s. High data storage density is achieved by the 3D capacity of the proposed material and the confocal detection mechanism limited only by the blue laser light diffraction limit and NA of the optical head. Multiple data layers can be accessed in high capacity media during write and read operations using two-photon absorption techniques and confocal detection mechanisms. Non-volatile reading is performed using one-photon excitation of the fluorescence center that does not cause degradation of stored information. Multilevel data storage can further increase data storage density due to the linearity of the luminescence response. The low average laser light intensity (in the mW range) required for information “writing” and “reading” preferably makes it possible to use compact blue laser diodes. A well-established and efficient crystal growth technique produces high optical quality Al ₂ O ₃ crystals.

  The invention is illustrated by examples. The experiments of the examples described below are meant to be illustrative of the materials and procedures described above and should not be considered as a limiting description of the invention.

Example I
The method of the present invention will be described using an optical data storage device of the type shown in FIG. Both “write” and “read” laser beams were generated by respective semiconductor lasers constructed using Nichia laser diodes. Two types of writing lasers were tested: a Power Technology CW-modulated laser that produces 18 mW at 405 nm, and a PicoQuant pulsed laser that produces 1.5 mW at 411 nm (20 MHz, 60 ps pulse width, 400 mW peak power). The output of the Power Technology “read” laser (440 nm, 3 mW) was controlled using a neutral density filter. Two laser beams were directed onto an Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystalline storage medium via a flipping mirror, a dichroic mirror, and a Nikon CFI PLAN FLUOR (0.85 NA, 60 ×) objective lens. This infinite conjugate objective lens has an optical component for manual spherical aberration compensation.

A single crystal disk of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg was mounted on a Polytec PI in combination with a 3D stepper-piezo translation stage having a resolution of 10 nm. The choice of depth of focus or constant data layer within the 3D capacity of the disc and correction of spherical aberration was made by moving the crystal 110 in the Z direction and by rotating the correction color on the objective lens. Laser-induced fluorescence was collected by an objective lens and reflected by a dichroic mirror through a condenser lens on a confocal pinhole. A long channel yellow glass filter OG515 134 was installed in front of the PMT to eliminate the remaining blue laser light. The fluorescence detected by the photomultiplier was processed either by a digital oscilloscope connected to a computer or a Stanford Research SR430 multichannel photon counter.

Recording of diffraction limited bits at different depths of Al ₂ O ₃ crystals requires careful spherical aberration compensation (SAC). The SAC of the optical system was calibrated using a knife-edge technique using a specially manufactured sapphire wedge with a thickness variation of 50-300 μm. After determining the proper focal plane position and the optimal SAC, both “write” and “read” laser beam profiles were measured. The diameter of the laser beam focused on 1 / e ² is equal to 0.55 ± 0.05 μm for a sapphire depth range of 100-240 μm.

Example II
A 1.8 mm thick Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal plate was cut out from a crystal boule having a diameter of 45 mm. Both sides were polished and placed on a test bench as described in Example I, perpendicular to the optical axis of an objective lens having a crystal optical c-axis parallel to the polarization of the laser beam. The concentration of the color center responsible for the 435 nm blue absorption band and 520 nm green luminescence was estimated to be 17,000 centers per microcube.

  The test was performed in the following sequence. A “write” operation was performed using either a modulated CW or a pulsed laser diode controlled by a computer interface board. Although both types of lasers had similar results, pulsed lasers require less energy per bit and produce better spatial resolution. The crystal medium was moved in the XY plane stepwise using a piezo actuator. During readout, the crystalline medium is translated in ramp mode in the X direction and stepwise in the Y and Z directions. A CW laser beam (15 μW, 440 nm) excited green (520 nm) fluorescence from the crystal medium.

A high density data storage process for Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg that utilizes a confocal fluorescence detection mechanism for two-photon absorption and reading during 1-bit recording is illustrated in the image of FIG. A bit image with fluorescence contrast was obtained using the method described in the present invention and was performed in the following sequence using the apparatus described above in Example I and described in FIG. A “write” operation was performed at full power using a 405 nm diode laser beam, and the laser pulse width was controlled using TTL pulses from a computer interface board. The decay of the fluorescent signal during the writing operation was detected by PMT and oscilloscope, and this was an indicator of successful writing. During the read operation, green fluorescence separated by PMT and photon using a CW low power blue diode laser (0.1 mW, 440 nm) modulated by another sequence of TTL pulses from a computer and separated by a dichroic mirror and confocal pinhole Detected by a counter.

  A 3 × 3 bit matrix spaced 5 μm apart was recorded and read as an image with fluorescence contrast (see FIG. 17). Nine bits were written with 405 nm laser light and a recording energy of just 25 nJ per bit. A “read” operation was performed by scanning the recorded area of the crystal storage medium with a modulated CW laser diode having a wavelength of 440 nm longer than the “write beam” to prevent erasure of information. In order to obtain an image of the written bits, the storage medium was scanned using a piezo actuator 3D stage from Polytec PI. Single photon pulses of fluorescence signal were detected using a multi-channel photon counter Stanford Research SR430 connected to PMT and personal computer. Crystal scans were performed at 0.2 μm increments and a scan rate of 153 μm / sec. The modulation depth of the recorded bits was about 40% and the full width at half maximum for a single bit was about 1 μm.

Example III
High density recording utilizing the apparatus described in Example I and type 1 or “negative” readout modes were demonstrated. A 100 × 100 bit image (FIG. 18) with 1 μm increments in the X and Y directions was written using a 3D piezo actuator. Each bit was written with an energy of 15 nJ generated by a pulsed PicoQuant diode laser (1000 pulses per bit). Reading the bit pattern in the fluorescence contrast of green 520 nm emission was performed by scanning a raster with 200 nm line spacing using a modulated CW laser beam (440 nm, 15 μW). An image having 500 × 500 pixels was obtained. A spatial profile of several bits spaced 1 μm apart is shown in FIG. 19, which demonstrates a modulation depth of 12%.

Example IV
A “positive” or “type 2” mode read operation that occurs during a “write” operation and utilizes a color center with 335 nm and 620 nm absorption bands and a 750 nm fluorescence emission band is described at the beginning of Example I and illustrated in FIG. The apparatus described in 1 was tested with some modifications. A red He—Ne laser with a wavelength of 632.8 nm was used as the reading laser. Different dichroic mirrors were installed that were transparent at 405 or 473 nm “writing” wavelength and reflected for 750 nm fluorescence. Other modifications of the device include a near-infrared sensitive avalanche photodetector and a 665 long-pass filter installed in front of it, instead of the green sensitive photodetector used in the previous examples. A similar Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal plate as described in Example II was used for the test. The operation of the crystallization medium was performed either by a static tester 3D piezo actuator or a dynamic tester 2D stepper stage on top of an air spindle. The writing operation was performed using a computer controlled 405 nm laser diode. The fluorescence signal was detected in confocal geometry by an avalanche photodetector and recorded by an oscilloscope and computer. An image of the bit obtained in the lateral (XY) plane is shown in FIG. A 100 × 60 bit matrix was written at 10 μm depth into the crystal volume with a 473 nm blue laser and read in the XY plane using a red 633 nm He—Ne laser. The recorded and read bits have a half width of 0.8 μm laterally and 2.5 μm axially. In this mode of operation, the readout fluorescence signal is measured with a small (nearly zero) level background signal, so that a “positive” mode of operation allows a better signal-to-noise ratio, In a “negative” type of read operation, the read signal is measured as a negative modulation of a high initial level of green fluorescence.

Example V
In other tests, the possibility of multilayer recording was proved. In the volume of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal media, 5 layers of recorded bits with 2 μm lateral and 7 m axial translation increments were obtained (FIG. 21). A single bit written with 2PA in the crystal volume has different dimensions laterally and axially with respect to the laser beam propagation direction. The theoretical axis size of the bit should be 3-4 times larger than the side bit size. To determine the size of the bits written in the axial direction (XZ plane), the bits of data are written using a step incremental operation of a 3D translation stage in the XZ plane, as in Example III above, and then fluorescence contrast An image of the bit at was obtained by raster scanning of the crystal in the XZ plane using a 633 nm laser beam. Bits for each layer were recorded and read with manual control of objective lens spherical aberration compensation (SAC). This accounts for some distortions in the fluorescence image. Automated SAC should be able to obtain more than 300 layers of data bits in a crystal volume having a thickness of 2 mm.

Example VI
The optical stability and optical erasure of data utilizing red laser stimulation were proved. Initially, the stability of data bits written to the volume of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg single crystal media was tested using the apparatus described in FIG. 1 and the write / read technique described in Example III. Data bits were written using a blue 473 nm laser. The track of data in the storage medium is then scanned multiple times using a 633 nm He-Ne laser with an output of 3 mW to obtain the fluorescence amplitude dependence of the data signal as a function of the number of read cycles and the total irradiation time. It was. FIG. 13 shows the decrease in fluorescence signal as a function of total irradiation time. At 1 second of total irradiation with a highly focused laser beam (this is equivalent to a 1 × 10 ⁶ reading cycle at a data rate of 1 MHz), the data signal dropped by only 5%.

Example VII
A preferred method of optical erasure of the data of the present invention is illustrated in this example by using pulsed red (620 nm) laser stimulation. First, a single crystal of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg is converted to a “written” state by 435 nm pulsed laser irradiation of a continuous panther optical parametric oscillator (OPO) tuned to a single beam of 435 nm wavelength, and the crystal The light absorption spectrum was recorded. The crystals were then subjected to a set of irradiations with 620 nm pulsed laser light from the same OPO, and the intensity of all absorption bands was recorded after each cycle of irradiation. Intensities in the 335, 435, and 620 nm bands were obtained after numerical deconvolution of the light absorption spectrum. The results are shown in FIG. 14 and by erasing the 335 nm and 630 nm bands and recovering the 435 nm band by using high peak power density red laser irradiation, this method returns the media to its original unwritten state. Prove that it can be converted.

Example VIII
15 and _16, Al ₂ O 3: _C, illustrating the possibility of multilevel data storage utilizing Mg optical storage medium. Multilevel storage is based on the inverse proportionality between the fluorescence intensity of the written bits and the number of write pulses. Ten bits were written on the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal using an increase in the number of “write” laser pulses. The modulation depth of the generated bit is a non-linear function of the number of laser pulses, but can nevertheless be digitized over several data values and uses the method and medium of the present invention to store data density Can be further increased.

Example IX
The optical properties of the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal used for the test of the present invention will now be described. A boule-shaped Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal having a diameter of 45 mm was obtained. The crystals were then cut into 1.8 mm thick disks and polished on both sides to obtain an optical quality surface. The light absorption spectra of the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystalline material utilized in the present invention and the known Al ₂ O ₃ : C crystal are obtained using a Shimadzu UV-2104PC spectrophotometer and are shown in FIG. The intensity of the F ⁺ -band at 230 and 255 nm is significantly higher for crystals doped with Mg. This indicates a higher concentration of F ^{+ -centers} charge compensated by Mg ²⁺ ions. The 435 nm blue absorption band indicates the generation of aggregate F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) defects used in the present invention. The grown crystal is 1 at 435 nm, corresponding to an absorption coefficient of 30 cm ^{−1 in} the F− central band of 205 nm and an absorption coefficient of 10 cm ⁻¹ in the F ⁺ − central absorption band of 255 nm and absorption in the F ₂ ²⁺ (Mg) − center. It had an absorption of 2 cm ⁻¹ (see FIGS. 2 and 3). All absorption coefficients are shown after subtracting the background pedestal. According to the Smacula equation, the absorption coefficient was calculated as the F-center concentration of 8.6 × 10 ¹⁷ cm ⁻³ , and the F ⁺ -center concentration of 2.6 × 10 ¹⁷ cm ⁻³ and 1.7 × It can be converted to a concentration of 10 ¹⁶ cm ⁻³ F ₂ ²⁺ (Mg) − center. The latter number indicates that there are 17,000 fluorescent centers per microcube of storage medium.

Example X
Luminescence-excitation of aggregate centers of Al ₂ O ₃ doped with Mg and C in two different states in order to justify the appropriate wavelength range for the “write”, “read” and “erase” operations of the present invention Spectra were obtained (FIGS. 4 and 7). Spectra were acquired using a spectrofluorometer equipped with a pulsed EG & G Xe lamp, two scanning Acton Research spectrographs, and a Princeton Instruments cooled CCD. Fresh (or erased) crystals were shown to show a strong green luminescence band in the 520 nm region with an excitation band corresponding to the 435 nm blue absorption band (FIGS. 2 and 3). After a writing operation with a 430 nm pulsed laser, the blue 435 nm absorption band (see FIG. 3) and the corresponding 520 nm green emission band disappear almost completely, and the crystals are all in the F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) − center. A strong emission band in the region of 750 nm is shown with corresponding excitation bands of 260 nm, 355 nm and 620 nm (FIG. 7). The two emission bands corresponding to the F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg)-and F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg)-centers, the 520 nm green band and the 750 nm IR band, have short lifetimes of about 9 and 80 ns, respectively (FIGS. 5 and 8). checking).

Example XI
We have demonstrated the color-centered light-induced transformation in Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg used to record and erase data. Exposure of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystals with oxygen vacancy defects to high intensity laser light of the appropriate wavelength results in light-induced transformation of the same structural defect from one charged state to another. obtain. For example, F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − center can be converted to F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) − center with 430 nm irradiation (FIGS. 3 and 6) and converted back with 335 nm pulsed laser light. After a photochromic transition induced by blue laser light, the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal exhibits an absorption / excitation band at 335 nm and 620 nm (FIGS. 3, 6, and 7) and a corresponding broad fluorescence emission at 750 nm. Shown (FIG. 7).

Example XII
Evidence of suitable two-photon absorption in aggregate oxygen vacancy defects is provided by the secondary dependence of the photoionization cross section of these center-pair laser light intensities (see FIG. 9). A test was performed using a 415 nm, 4.5 ns laser pulse of an optical parametric oscillator, irradiating a thin 380 μm Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal and recording the fluorescence decay constant as a function of laser energy density. The photoionization cross section was then calculated to be inversely proportional to this attenuation constant.

The wavelength dependence of the photoionization cross section at the center of F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) was measured as a function of wavelength. The peak position of the photoionization cross section is shifted to a shorter wavelength compared to the one-photon absorption / excitation band (FIGS. 4 and 10) and is another indicator of the 2PA process in Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystals is there.

Example XIII
The possible data rates and non-destructive read operations of the present invention were tested. Areas written with Type 1 (ie, so-called “negative” operation) were read with a blue laser diode from PicoQuant (0.6 mW average power, 60 ps pulse, and repetition rate at 20 MHz). Fluorescence at 520 nm was detected using a long channel glass filter OG515, a fast ThorLabs DET210 silicon photodetector, and a Tektonix TDS-3045 oscilloscope. A fluorescent signal with a decay time of 9 ns is shown in FIG. 5 and shows the possibility of achieving data transfer rates up to 100 Mbit / s. The fluorescence signal in the unwritten region of the crystal shows strong 520 nm fluorescence. The amplitude of this pulse signal does not decrease over several hours, indicating that there is only one photon absorption during the “read” operation. For comparison, the region of the crystal subjected to “write” pulse 435 nm laser light shows a fluorescent signal equal to only 10% of the signal from the unwritten crystal.

Example XIV
Readout operations utilizing type 2 or “positive” fluorescence processes were tested. A “write” operation was performed using the same crystal sample as described in Example II and the Continuum Panther OPO laser system described in Example VII. Reading of the area written with Type 2 (or “positive” type operation) was performed with a 335 nm UV beam from the same OPO laser system (100 nJ / pulse, 4.5 ns pulse width, and 10 Hz repetition rate). Fluorescence at 750 nm was detected using a long channel glass filter RG610 and ThorLabs, Inc. silicon photodiode DET-110, and a Tektonix TDS-3054 oscilloscope. The fluorescence signal with a decay time of 80 ± 10 ns is shown in FIG. The 750 nm infrared fluorescence band of the bleached (written) crystal has a longer lifetime than the 520 nm green fluorescence of the erased crystal medium, but this is still not sufficient for data rate operations up to 10 Mb / s. Fast enough.

Example XV
FIG. 6 can be used as another example of the multilevel data storage capability of the utilized optical storage method based on the inverse proportionality of the absorption band intensity between 435 and 335 nm and their writing time dependence. The Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal described in Example II was subjected to an increase in the 430 nm “write” laser pulse of the OPO laser system described in Example VII. Each second of irradiation corresponds to 10 laser pulses. While the absorption in the 435 nm band associated with the 520 nm fluorescence signal decreases as a function of the number of writing laser pulses, the absorption in the 335 nm band and 750 nm infrared luminescence associated with F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) increases simultaneously.

Example XVI
A very important feature of photochromic transformation in Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystals is its high thermal stability. The high thermal and light stability of this recorded information is due to the deep traps that occur during crystal growth and is demonstrated by a step annealing test of the light absorption band in Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystals (FIG. 11). During recording with high intensity blue laser light, the 430 nm band is converted into 335 nm and 620 nm bands [2F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) + 2hν → F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) + F ₂ ³⁺ (2Mg)]. The inverse transformation of the light absorption band [F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) + F ₂ ³⁺ (2Mg) → F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg)] occurs at about 650 ° C.

Example XVII
Either reverse photochromic conversion and recovery of the 435 nm absorption band, either pulse 335 ± 20 nm irradiation, or continuous irradiation of the crystal with 215 nm then 335 nm laser light corresponding to more efficient F and F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) center absorption Achieved by. The original strong absorption at 435 nm and fluorescence at 520 nm were restored. The inverse photochromic process that converts F ₂ ⁺ (Mg) − centers to F ₂ ²⁺ (Mg) − centers can be performed by two-photon absorption of laser light in the 335 nm absorption band. Complete erasure of recorded data and recovery of the original green coloration of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg can be achieved by heating the crystals to 650 ° C. (FIG. 11).

  All documents, patent documents, journals, and other materials cited in this application are hereby incorporated by reference.

  It is important to emphasize that the present invention is not limited to the details of specific materials and technical processes described herein in this application. The invention is possible in other embodiments and can be implemented and carried out in various ways. It should be understood that the terms and terms used herein are for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

  Although the present invention has been fully described with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims without departing from the invention.

It is the schematic which shows the process of writing information in the data storage medium of this invention using two photon absorption, and the process of reading information from the data storage medium of this invention using the laser induction fluorescence which has a confocal detection mechanism. Shows the optical absorption spectra of two crystals: the known Al ₂ O ₃ : C crystal spectrum used for radiation dosimetry, and the higher concentration of F ⁺ -center (absorption at 255 nm) and the new material clearly distinguished to _F ² + (2Mg) - and _F ² 2+ (2Mg) - corresponding to the center with a new absorption band, which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention _Al 2 _O 3: C, spectrum of Mg single crystal. ₃ shows photochromic conversion of the 335, 435, and 620 nm absorption bands in Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystals during write and erase operations, and is the result of two-photon absorption, ionization, and trapping of electrons at the color center. Assignment center absorption, excitation, and a graph showing the emission spectrum, excitation spectrum of the emission band of 520nm to the same deficiency - C, _F ² 2+ generated in _{Mg (2Mg): Al 2 O} 3 in arrival or erased state It is in good agreement with the obtained 435 nm absorption band and shows the wavelength dependence of the two-photon photoionization cross section for the F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − center. Fluorescent signal at a repetition rate of 20 MHz with a lifetime of F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) -center emission at 520 nm equal to 9 ± 3 ns for the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg luminescent material of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is a graph which shows continuous reading of. Al 2 _{O 3} of a preferred embodiment of the present invention: _C, Mg luminescent for sensing material, multilevel data storage principle based on the inverse proportionality between the dependency of the absorption band intensity of 435 and 335nm "write" time It is a graph which shows. _Al 2 _O 3 using pulsed blue laser light having a wavelength of 430nm: C, _F ² 2+ in Mg crystal (2Mg) - optical conversion of the center ( "write" operation) of the resulting _F ² + (2Mg) -A graph showing the excitation and emission spectra of the center. FIG. 6 is a graph showing lifetime measurements of F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) -center emission at 750 nm equal to 80 ± 5 ns for an Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg luminescent material of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. _F ² 2+ in the peak laser intensity (2Mg) - is a graph showing the secondary dependence of photoionization cross-section of the _center, Al ₂ O 3: _C, indicating a high probability of two-photon absorption process in Mg crystal. It is a graph showing the wavelength dependence of the photoionization cross-section, _Al 2 _O 3 at about 390 nm: C, shows the optimum wavelength for performing the "write" operation in Mg. FIG. 11A is a graph showing the temperature dependence of the light absorption band (F ⁺ -center) at 255 nm and shows high thermal stability of trapped charges up to 600 ° C .; FIG. 11B shows light absorption at 335 nm FIG. 11C is a graph showing the temperature dependence of the band (F ₂ ⁺ (2Mg) −center) and shows high thermal stability of trapped charges up to 600 ° C .; FIG. 11C shows the light absorption band (F ₂ ^{2+ at} 435 nm). FIG. 11D shows the temperature dependence of (2Mg) -center) and shows high thermal stability of trapped charges up to 600 ° C .; FIG. 11D shows the light absorption band (F ₂ ³⁺ (2Mg) -center at 620 nm ) And shows a high thermal stability of trapped charges up to 600 ° C. FIG. ₃ is a band diagram showing the electronic process in Mg impurity doped Al ₂ O ₃ crystals during “write” and “read” operations. Explains the dependence of the fluorescence amplitude of the written bit as a function of the 635 nm red laser exposure time and demonstrates both the stability of the data during multiple readout cycles and the possibility of erasing the bit with a high power focused red laser . An optical erase operation using inverse photochromic conversion between the 335 and 620 nm bands characteristic of the writing state of the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg medium and the 435 nm light absorption band characteristic of the original state or erased state of the medium. explain. Photochromic conversion was performed under the conditions of multiphoton absorption using red (620 nm) laser light with high peak output of an optical parametric oscillator. FIG. 6 is a graph showing multi-level 1-bit recording by measuring fluorescence images during an XY scan of an Al ₂ O ₃ crystal, where 10 bits are written into the crystal volume with different numbers of 60 ps “write” laser pulses. It is. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the dependence of the modulation depth of a bit as a function of the number of “written” laser pulses and shows a multi-level 1-bit record. FIG. 5 is a 3 × 3 bit matrix fluorescence image written to the XY plane of the crystalline media using CW 405 nm laser diodes in 5 μm increments and read using a confocal detection mechanism and a 440 nm CW laser diode. 500 × 500 pixel image obtained with fluorescence contrast after writing 100 × 100 bits in the XY plane of the crystal in 1 μm increments, where the bits are written with a pulse of blue 411 nm laser diode and 440 nm laser diode I read it. Reading is done in type 1 or “negative” mode operation, which utilizes F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) centered 520 nm fluorescence. Bit profile obtained with fluorescence contrast during X-scan of the crystal, showing the spatial resolution of bits written in 15 nJ and 1 μm increments per bit. It is a 500 * 300 pixel image obtained by fluorescence contrast after writing 100 * 60 bit on the XY plane of a crystal | crystallization by 1 micrometer increment. The bits were written with a blue 473 nm laser pulse and read with a 633 nm CW laser. The readout is performed using type 2 or “positive” mode operation, which utilizes a 620 nm absorption band and 750 nm fluorescence emission centered on F2 + (2Mg). 5 is an image of a 5 layer bit obtained with fluorescence contrast in the XZ plane of the crystal after writing the bit into the crystal volume in 2 μm lateral and 7 μm axial increments. Bit images were written with a blue 473 nm laser pulse and read with a 633 nm CW laser. And this shows the possibility of writing and reading data in multiple layers in the crystal volume, preferably a “positive” mode read operation, which consists of a F ₂ ³⁺ (2Mg) centered 620 nm absorption band and 750 nm. Utilizes fluorescence. A carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) equal to 45 dB for a data bit written to and read from a volume of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal is shown. The output spectrum was obtained by FFT of the waveform after writing 500 bits with a modulated 405 nm laser diode and reading with a 633 nm CW laser. Data was obtained utilizing a dynamic tester with a crystal medium rotating on an air spindle equipped with a laser encoder. A type 2 or "positive" mode read operation was used. Shows anisotropy of the optical properties of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystals and shows the angular dependence of the absorption coefficient for the 435 nm band: And (b) the crystal's optical c-axis is parallel to the direction of polarization light propagation. FIG. 24A shows one preferred embodiment of a write, read, and erase operation using an anisotropic single crystal having an optical c-axis that is perpendicular to the plane of the disk and parallel to the direction of laser light propagation. . This aspect eliminates dependencies on writing, reading and erasing efficiency at the angular position of the rotating disk. FIG. 24B shows another preferred embodiment of writing and reading operations using an anisotropic single crystal having an optical c-axis that is parallel to the plane of the rotating disk and perpendicular to the direction of laser light propagation. The polarization direction of the laser light rotates in synchronism with the rotation of the disk and in all cases is parallel to the optical c-axis of the crystal. This aspect eliminates dependencies on write, read and erase efficiency at the angular position of the rotating disk and at the same time provides higher optical absorption for higher efficiency of write, read and erase operations.

Claims (127)

A method of writing information to a data storage medium,
Providing a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O _3; a and said information source comprises the step of writing to said luminescent data storage medium, the method.   The information uses two-photon absorption techniques and photoionization techniques to remove electrons from the color center in the luminescent data storage medium and to move the electrons to a thermally stable trap in the luminescent data storage medium The method of claim 1, wherein the method is written to the luminescence data storage medium.   The method of claim 2, wherein the two-photon absorption technique is a continuous two-stage two-photon absorption technique.   The method of claim 2, wherein the two-photon absorption technique is a simultaneous direct two-photon absorption technique without intermediate levels.   The method of claim 1, wherein the luminescent data storage medium is written to more than one layer at different depths within the data storage medium.   6. The method of claim 5, wherein the light source generates a laser beam from an optical read / write head, and the optical read / write head incorporates spherical aberration compensation having a diffraction limited depth of at least 10 microns.   The method of claim 1, wherein the luminescent data storage medium is written with different modulation depths, thereby achieving multi-level data storage. The luminescence data storage medium is
A basic material comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
The method of claim 1, comprising: a first dopant comprising Mg; and a second dopant comprising carbon, wherein the luminescence data storage medium comprises a number of at least one type of oxygen vacancy defects.   9. The method of claim 8, wherein the luminescent data storage medium comprises at least one color center that absorbs in the region of 435 ± 5 nm, emits in the region of 520 ± 5 nm, and has a fluorescence lifetime of 9 ± 3 ns.   9. The method of claim 8, wherein the luminescent data storage medium comprises at least one color center that absorbs in the region of 335 ± 5 nm, emits in the region of 750 ± 5 nm, and has a fluorescence lifetime of 80 ± 10 ns.   The luminescence data storage medium absorbs in the region of 435 ± 5 nm, emits in the region of 520 ± 5 nm, and at least one color center having a fluorescence lifetime of 9 ± 3 ns, and absorbs in the region of 335 ± 5 nm, 750 ± 9. The method of claim 8, comprising at least one color center having an emission in the region of 5 nm and a fluorescence lifetime of 80 ± 10 ns.   The method of claim 8, wherein the luminescence data storage medium is written for a write time based on a change in fluorescence amplitude of at least 1%.   The method of claim 8, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength including from 370 to 490 nm.   The method of claim 8, wherein the light source emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 390 nm.   9. The method of claim 8, wherein the light source emits a laser beam having a writing time in the range of 0.1 ps to 1 ms.   The method of claim 8, wherein the light source emits a laser beam having a writing time of 10 ns. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the luminescent data storage medium is a single crystal Al ₂ O ₃ material.   The method of claim 1, further comprising focusing the light source to a predetermined depth in the luminescent data storage medium.   The method of claim 18, wherein the light source is focused by moving the luminescent data storage medium relative to the light source.   The method of claim 18, wherein the laser beam is focused on the luminescent data storage medium by adjusting the position of an optical pickup head that includes the light source.   The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the luminescence data storage medium to a writing position prior to writing the laser beam to the luminescence data storage medium. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source emits a laser beam having a power density greater than 10 ³ W / cm ² . The method of claim 1, wherein the light source emits a laser beam having a power density of at least 10 ⁵ W / cm ² . A method for reading information stored on a data storage medium, comprising:
(A) exciting the luminescence data storage medium with a light source to emit a fluorescent light signal to the luminescence data storage medium, the luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ and the light source comprising: Emitting a reading laser beam having a wavelength in the range of the absorption band of the luminescence data storage medium; and (b) measuring a fluorescence light signal induced by the laser from the luminescence data storage medium, thereby Reading the information stored on the luminescent data storage medium.   Step (a) uses a one-photon absorption technique to excite the luminescent data storage medium without causing memory center photoionization, thereby generating a fluorescent light signal in the luminescent data storage medium, thereby 25. The method of claim 24, comprising non-destructively reading the luminescent data storage medium.   The step (a) excites the luminescent data storage medium without causing photoionization of the storage center using simultaneous two-photon absorption techniques to generate a fluorescent light signal in the luminescent data storage medium; 25. The method of claim 24, comprising non-destructively reading the luminescence data storage medium.   27. The method of claim 26, wherein the data storage medium is excited by light from the light source having a wavelength that is approximately twice as long as the wavelength of the absorption band of the luminescent data storage medium. The luminescence data storage medium is
A basic material comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
25. The method of claim 24, comprising: a first dopant comprising magnesium; and a second dopant comprising carbon, wherein the luminescence data storage medium comprises a number of at least one type of oxygen vacancy defects.   29. The method of claim 28, wherein the luminescent data storage medium comprises at least one color center that absorbs in the region of 435 ± 5 nm, emits in the region of 520 ± 5 nm, and has a fluorescence lifetime of 9 ± 3 ns.   30. The method of claim 28, wherein the luminescent data storage medium comprises at least one color center having absorption in the region of 335 ± 5 nm, emission in the region of 750 ± 5 nm, and a lifetime of 80 ± 10 ns. The read laser beam has a wavelength in the absorption band of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg centered at 335 ± 10 nm, and the fluorescent signal emits light having a wavelength range including from 620 to 880 nm 29. The method of claim 28, having a band and centered at 750 ± 10 nm. The fluorescent light signal was excited with light having a wavelength in the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg absorption band and centered at 255 ± 10 nm, and the fluorescent light signal included from 620 nm to 880 nm 29. The method of claim 28, having an emission band having a wavelength range and centered at 750 ± 10 nm.   The luminescence data storage medium absorbs in the region of 435 ± 5 nm, emits in the region of 520 ± 5 nm, and at least one color center having a fluorescence lifetime of 9 ± 3 ns, and absorbs in the region of 335 ± 5 nm, 750 ± 29. The method of claim 28, comprising at least one color center having an emission in the 5 nm region and a lifetime of 80 ± 10 ns.   29. The method of claim 28, wherein the fluorescent light signal has a wavelength including from 470 to 580 nm and is centered at 520 ± 10 nm.   30. The method of claim 28, wherein the reading laser beam illuminates the luminescent data storage medium for a time of 1 ns to 10 [mu] s.   30. The method of claim 28, wherein the reading laser beam illuminates the luminescence data storage medium for about 100 ns.   29. The method of claim 28, wherein the laser beam has a read time that includes from 0.1 ps to 1 s.   30. The method of claim 28, wherein the laser beam has a read time of 10 ns. Before the step (a),
30. The method of claim 28, further comprising writing the luminescence data storage medium with a writing laser beam.   30. The method of claim 28, wherein the read and write laser beams have a wavelength including from 380 to 490 nm.   41. The method of claim 40, wherein the read laser beam has a longer wavelength than the write laser beam, and the read laser beam has a wavelength including from about 430 to 490 nm.   25. The method of claim 24, wherein information from the luminescent data storage medium is read from more than one layer at different depths within the luminescent data storage medium.   43. The method of claim 42, wherein step (b) comprises detecting the fluorescent signal using a confocal detection technique.   The read laser beam is generated by the light source located in a read / write head, and the optical read / write head incorporates spherical aberration compensation that enables a diffraction limited spot at a depth of at least 10 microns; 43. The method of claim 42. Before the step (a),
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising writing to the luminescence data storage medium with a writing laser beam.   46. The method of claim 45, wherein the read and write laser beams have the same wavelength.   46. The method of claim 45, wherein the read and write laser beams have different wavelengths.   46. The read and write laser beams are each focused through a lens, and the lens is used to write information to and read information from the luminescence data storage medium. The method described in 1.   25. The method of claim 24, further comprising moving the luminescence data storage medium relative to the light source and to a reading position before the reading laser beam excites the luminescence data storage medium.   25. The method of claim 24, further comprising focusing the read laser beam to a predetermined depth in the luminescent data storage medium.   51. The method of claim 50, wherein the read laser beam is focused by moving the luminescent data storage medium relative to the read laser beam.   51. The method of claim 50, wherein the read laser beam is focused by adjusting the position of an optical pickup head that includes the light source.   25. The method of claim 24, wherein the luminescent data storage medium is read with a read time equal to a read laser beam pulse length, and the luminescent data storage medium is a stationary data storage medium.   25. The luminescent data storage medium is read at a read time equal to a ratio of the read spot size to the speed of the luminescent data storage medium, and the luminescent data storage medium is a movable data storage medium. the method of. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the read laser beam has a power density less than about 10 < ³ > W / cm < ² >. A method for erasing information stored in a data storage medium, comprising:
(A) providing a luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ , wherein the luminescence data storage medium has information stored therein; and (b) the luminescence data storage. Irradiating the medium with a light source to erase the information.   57. The method of claim 56, wherein the information is erased from the data storage medium using a two-photon absorption technique. The luminescence data storage medium is
A basic material comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
57. The method of claim 56, comprising: a first dopant comprising magnesium; and a second dopant comprising carbon, wherein the luminescence data storage medium comprises a number of at least one type of oxygen vacancy defects.   The luminescence data storage medium absorbs in the region of 435 ± 5 nm, emits in the region of 520 ± 5 nm, and at least one color center having a fluorescence lifetime of 9 ± 3 ns, and absorbs in the region of 335 ± 5 nm, 750 ± 59. The method of claim 58, comprising at least one color center having an emission in the 5 nm region and a lifetime of 80 ± 10 ns. 60. The step (b) comprises illuminating the luminescent data storage medium with the light source having a power density greater than or equal to a threshold of two photon absorption at a wavelength of 335 ± 30 nm and 10 ³ W / cm ^2. The method described.   61. The irradiation is completed with the light source having a wavelength of 335 ± 30 nm and is performed prior to irradiating the luminescent data storage medium with UV light having a wavelength centered at 205 ± 30 nm. the method of.   62. The method of claim 61, wherein the UV light is coherent.   62. The method of claim 61, wherein the UV light is non-coherent. An apparatus comprising: a luminescent data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; and a light source for writing information to the luminescent data storage medium. A luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
A first light source for exciting the luminescence data storage medium to generate a fluorescent light signal in the luminescence data storage medium when information is stored on the luminescence data storage medium; and the generated An apparatus comprising measuring means for measuring a fluorescent light signal.   66. The apparatus of claim 65, further comprising a second light source for writing information to the luminescence data storage medium.   68. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the first and second light sources are the same.   68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the measurement means includes confocal detection means.   68. The apparatus of claim 66, further comprising an optical head including the first light source and the second light source. A luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
A light source for writing information to the luminescence data storage medium; and compensation means for adaptive spherical aberration compensation of the light source for optically presenting a diffraction limited spot in a depth range of at least 10 microns. apparatus. Luminescent data storage medium containing al ₂ O _3; and the luminescent data generation of an electron removal from color centers in the storage medium and the two-photon absorption technique for moving the electronic thermal stability traps in the luminescent data storage medium And writing means for writing information to the luminescent data storage medium using photoionization techniques, the writing means comprising a first light source. Excitation of the luminescence data storage medium with a light source having a wavelength in the range of the absorption band of the luminescence data storage medium to the luminescence data storage medium without photoionization of the color center of the luminescence data storage medium. 72. Reading means for generating a fluorescent light signal due to photon absorption, the reading means further comprising a second light source; and means for measuring the generated fluorescent light signal. The device described.   The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the first and second light sources are the same. A method for erasing information stored on a data storage medium, comprising:
(A) providing a luminescent storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ , wherein the luminescent data storage medium has the information stored therein; and (b) about 600 to 700 ° C. Thermally annealing the luminescence data storage medium at a temperature of erasing the information on the luminescence data storage medium.   75. The method of claim 74, wherein step (b) comprises annealing the data storage medium at a temperature of about 650 degrees Celsius.   75. The method of claim 74, further comprising cooling the luminescent data storage medium to room temperature. At least a portion of said luminescent data storage medium is a single crystal Al ₂ O ₃ material, The method of claim 74. The luminescence data storage medium is
A basic material comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
75. The method of claim 74, comprising: a first dopant comprising magnesium; and a second dopant comprising carbon, wherein the luminescence data storage medium comprises a number of at least one type of oxygen vacancy defects.   The luminescence data storage medium includes color centers having 335 and 630 nm light absorption bands and 750 nm fluorescence emission band, and the color centers having 335 and 630 nm light absorption bands before the step (b) 79. The method of claim 78, wherein step (b) converts to a color center having a 435 nm light absorption band and a 520 nm fluorescence emission band. The Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal has a green coloration and has an initial concentration of F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − centers before the information is stored on the luminescent data storage medium; and said step (b), _F ² 2+ of green-colored and initial concentration (2Mg) - center comprising the step of recovering the method of claim 78. An apparatus for erasing information stored on a data storage medium,
A luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ , wherein the luminescence data storage medium has the information stored thereon; and the luminescence data storage medium at a temperature of about 600 to 700 ° C. An apparatus comprising annealing means for thermally annealing to erase the information on the luminescent data storage medium.   The apparatus of claim 81, further comprising cooling means for cooling the thermally annealed data storage medium to room temperature. At least a portion of said luminescent data storage medium is a single crystal Al ₂ O ₃ material, apparatus according to claim 81. The luminescence data storage medium is
A basic material comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
82. The apparatus of claim 81, comprising: a first dopant comprising magnesium; and a second dopant comprising carbon, wherein the luminescence data storage medium comprises a number of at least one type of oxygen vacancy defects.   While the information is stored on the luminescence data storage medium, the luminescence data storage medium includes color centers having 335 and 630 nm light absorption bands and 750 nm fluorescence emission bands, and 335 and 630 nm light absorption bands. 85. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the color center having is converted to a color center having a 435 nm light absorption band and a 520 nm fluorescent emission band by annealing the luminescent data storage medium at a temperature of about 650 <0> C. The Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg crystal has a green coloration and has an initial concentration of F ₂ ²⁺ (2Mg) − centers before the information is stored on the luminescent data storage medium; and said annealing means, F ₂ ²⁺ of green-colored and initial concentration ^(2Mg) - mainly be recovered, according to claim 85. A method for reading information stored on a data storage medium, comprising:
(A) exciting the luminescence data storage medium with a light source to generate a fluorescent light signal in the luminescence data storage medium, the luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ and the light source Emitting a read laser beam having a wavelength in the range of the absorption band of the luminescent data storage medium; and (b) measuring the laser-induced fluorescent light signal from the luminescent data storage medium; Reading the information stored on the luminescence data storage medium, the luminescence data storage medium comprising:
A basic material comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
A first dopant comprising magnesium; and a second dopant comprising carbon, the luminescence data storage medium comprising a number of at least one type of oxygen vacancy defects, and the luminescence data storage medium , Including at least one color center having an absorption band in the region of 250 ± 5 nm, 335 ± 5 nm, and 620 ± 10 nm, emission in the region of 750 ± 10 nm, and a lifetime of 80 ± 10 ns.   The step (a) excites the luminescent data storage medium using a one-photon absorption technique without causing photoionization of the memory center to generate a fluorescent light signal in the luminescent data storage medium; and 90. The method of claim 87, comprising non-destructively reading the luminescent data storage medium.   The step (a) excites the luminescent data storage medium using a simultaneous two-photon absorption technique without causing photoionization of the storage center to generate a fluorescent light signal in the luminescent data storage medium; 90. The method of claim 87, comprising non-destructively reading the luminescent data storage medium.   90. The method of claim 89, wherein the data storage medium is excited by light from the light source having a wavelength that is approximately twice as long as the wavelength of the absorption band of the luminescent data storage medium. The reading laser beam has a wavelength in the absorption band of Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg centered at 620 ± 10 nm, and the fluorescent light signal has a wavelength range including from 620 to 880 nm; 88. The method of claim 87, having an emission band centered at 750 ± 10 nm. The fluorescent light signal was excited with light having a wavelength within the Al ₂ O ₃ : C, Mg absorption band and centered at 250 ± 10 nm, the fluorescent light signal included from 620 to 880 nm 88. The method of claim 87, having an emission band having a wavelength range and centered at 750 ± 10 nm.   The luminescence data storage medium absorbs in the region of 435 ± 5 nm, emits in the region of 520 ± 5 nm, and at least one color center having a fluorescence lifetime of 9 ± 3 ns, and in the region of 335 ± 5 nm and 620 ± 10 nm 88. The method of claim 87, comprising at least one color center having an absorption band, emission in the region of 750 ± 5 nm, and a lifetime of 80 ± 10 ns.   88. The method of claim 87, wherein the fluorescent light signal has a wavelength including from 650 to 800 nm and is centered at 750 ± 10 nm.   88. The method of claim 87, wherein the read laser beam illuminates the luminescent data storage medium for a time of 1 ns to 10 [mu] s.   88. The method of claim 87, wherein the reading laser beam illuminates the luminescence data storage medium for about 100 ns.   88. The method of claim 87, further comprising writing to the luminescent data storage medium with a writing laser beam prior to step (a).   88. The method of claim 87, wherein information from the luminescent data storage medium is read from more than one layer at different depths within the luminescent data storage medium.   88. The method of claim 87, wherein step (b) comprises detecting the fluorescent signal using a confocal detection technique.   88. The read laser beam is generated by the light source disposed in a read / write head, and the optical read / write head incorporates spherical aberration compensation that brings the diffraction limited spot to a depth of at least 10 microns. The method described in 1.   The read and write laser beams are each focused through a lens, and the lens is used to write information to and read information from the luminescence data storage medium. 97. The method according to 97.   88. The method of claim 87, further comprising moving the luminescence data storage medium relative to the light source and to a reading position before the reading laser beam excites the luminescence data storage medium.   88. The method of claim 87, further comprising focusing the read laser beam to a predetermined depth in the luminescence data storage medium.   104. The method of claim 103, wherein the read laser beam is focused by moving the luminescent data storage medium relative to the read laser beam.   104. The method of claim 103, wherein the read laser beam is focused by adjusting the position of an optical pickup head.   88. The method of claim 87, wherein the luminescent data storage medium is read with a read time equal to a read laser beam pulse length, and the luminescent data storage medium is a stationary data storage medium.   88. The luminescent data storage medium is read at a read time equal to a ratio of the read spot size to the speed of the luminescent data storage medium, and the luminescent data storage medium is a movable data storage medium. the method of. A method for writing information to a data storage medium, comprising:
Providing a luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; and writing the information to the luminescence data storage medium with a light source, the luminescence data storage medium having a direction of light propagation of the light source. And having an optical c-axis orientation parallel to the method. The luminescence data storage medium is
A basic material comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
109. The method of claim 108, comprising: a first dopant comprising Mg; and a second dopant comprising carbon, wherein the luminescence data storage medium comprises a number of at least one type of oxygen vacancy defects.   110. The method of claim 109, wherein the luminescent data storage medium comprises at least one color center having absorption in the region of 435 ± 5 nm, emission in the region of 520 ± 5 nm, and fluorescence lifetime of 9 ± 3 ns.   The luminescence data storage medium has at least one color center having excitation and absorption bands in the regions of 250 ± 5 nm, 335 ± 5 nm, and 620 ± 10 nm, emission in the region of 750 ± 10 nm, and fluorescence lifetime of 80 ± 10 ns 110. The method of claim 109, comprising:   110. The method of claim 109, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength including from 370 to 490 nm.   110. The method of claim 109, wherein the light source emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 390 nm. A method of writing information to a data storage medium,
Providing a luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ; and writing the information to the luminescence data storage medium with a light source, the luminescence data storage medium having a direction of light propagation of the light source. And the polarization vector of the light source rotates synchronously with the rotation of the luminescent data storage medium and maintains the optical c axis of the crystal parallel to the polarization direction of the light source. A method comprising the steps of: A method for reading information stored on a data storage medium, comprising:
(A) exciting the luminescence data storage medium with a light source to generate a fluorescent light signal in the luminescence data storage medium, the luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ and the light source Generating a read laser beam having a wavelength in the range of the absorption band of the luminescence data storage medium, and the luminescence data storage medium having an optical c-axis orientation parallel to the direction of light propagation of the light source And (b) measuring the laser-induced fluorescent light signal from the luminescence data storage medium and reading the information stored on the luminescence data storage medium. A method for reading information stored on a data storage medium, comprising:
(A) exciting the luminescence data storage medium with a light source to generate a fluorescent light signal in the luminescence data storage medium, the luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ and the light source Generate a read laser beam having a wavelength in the range of the absorption band of the luminescent data storage medium, and the luminescent data storage medium has an optical c-axis orientation perpendicular to the light propagation direction of the light source; And the vector of polarization of the light source is rotated synchronously with the rotation of the luminescence data storage medium and the c-axis of the crystal is maintained parallel to the polarization direction of the light source; and (b) the luminescence Measuring the laser-induced fluorescent light signal from the sense data storage medium and reading the information stored on the luminescence data storage medium. Law. A method for erasing information stored on a data storage medium, comprising:
(A) providing a luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ , the luminescence data storage medium having the information stored therein; and (b) the luminescence data storage. Irradiating the medium with a light source to erase the information, the luminescence data storage medium comprising:
A basic material comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
A first dopant comprising magnesium; and a second dopant comprising carbon, the luminescence data storage medium comprising a number of at least one type of oxygen vacancy defects, and the luminescence data storage medium , Including at least one color center having an absorption band in the region of 250 ± 5 nm, 335 ± 5 nm, and 620 ± 10 nm, emission in the region of 750 ± 5 nm, and a lifetime of 80 ± 10 ns.   118. The method of claim 117, wherein step (b) comprises illuminating the luminescent data storage medium with the light source having a wavelength of 620 ± 50 nm under conditions of multiphoton absorption.   118. The method of claim 117, wherein the luminescent data storage medium has an orientation of the optical c-axis that is parallel to a direction of light propagation of the light source.   The luminescence data storage medium has an optical c-axis orientation perpendicular to the direction of light propagation of the light source, and the polarization vector of the light source rotates synchronously with the rotation of the luminescence data storage medium; and 118. The method of claim 117, wherein the c-axis of the crystal is maintained parallel to the polarization direction of the light source. A luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
An apparatus comprising: a light source for writing information to the luminescence data storage medium; and means for rotating the luminescence data storage medium and means for rotating a vector of polarization of the light source, the luminescence An apparatus wherein the optical c-axis of the data storage medium rotates synchronously and is parallel to the polarization vector of the light source. A luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
A first light source for exciting the luminescence data storage medium to generate a fluorescent light signal in the luminescence data storage medium when information is stored in the luminescence data storage medium;
An apparatus comprising: measurement means for measuring the generated fluorescent light signal; and means for rotating the luminescence data storage medium and means for rotating a vector of polarization of the light source, the luminescence An apparatus wherein the optical c-axis of the data storage medium rotates synchronously and is parallel to the polarization vector of the light source.   The apparatus of claim 122, further comprising a second light source for writing information to the luminescence data storage medium.   124. The apparatus of claim 123, wherein the first and second light sources are the same.   The apparatus of claim 124, wherein the measuring means includes confocal detection means.   124. The apparatus of claim 123, further comprising an optical head that includes the first light source and the second light source. A luminescence data storage medium comprising Al ₂ O ₃ ;
An apparatus comprising: a light source for erasing information from the luminescence data storage medium; and means for rotating a vector of polarization of the light source, wherein the optical c-axis of the luminescence data storage medium is synchronously rotated; And a device parallel to the vector of polarization of the light source.

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